Vanuatu is an independent state in Melanesia, and a member of the United Nations. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Vanuatu. Its seat of government is Port Vila.
The land area is 12,189 km², which ranks it 164th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Montenegro and just ahead of the Falkland Islands. For scale, it is a little larger than Qatar.
The population is about 327,777, placing it 182nd of 250 by population — between Martinique above it and Mayotte below. Among the 5 entries in Melanesia it ranks 5th by area and 4th by population.
Vanuatu on the map
The coordinates the dataset gives are 16.0° S, 167.0° E, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,781 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Bolivia, Zambia and French Polynesia sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
It shares no land border with anyone. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, so everything and everyone arrives by sea or by air.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The people of Vanuatu
Density comes out at around 27 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
It recognises 3 languages: Bislama, English and French. Bislama is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Vanuatu.
Someone from Vanuatu is a Ni-Vanuatu.
Against Oceania as a whole it is the 6th most populous of 27 entries, and it accounts for 2.5% of everyone living in Melanesia.
The practical details for Vanuatu
Money there is the Vanuatu vatu (Vt, VUV). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Vanuatu.
Port Vila is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Websites there use the .vu domain. Calls from overseas start with +678. Standard country codes: vu and VUT.
Vanuatu is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Fun facts about Vanuatu
- Within Melanesia it is the 5th largest of 5.
- In land area it is a little larger than Qatar.
- Its full official name is Republic of Vanuatu.
- Its capital city is Port Vila.
- Websites based there use the .vu domain.
- The Vanuatu vatu is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- It lies about 1,781 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
Vanuatu — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Vanuatu?
- The capital of Vanuatu is Port Vila.
- What currency does Vanuatu use?
- Vanuatu uses the Vanuatu vatu, written Vt (currency code VUV). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Does Vanuatu border any other country?
- No. Vanuatu has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- What language is spoken in Vanuatu?
- Vanuatu lists 3 official languages: Bislama, English and French. Bislama does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- Is Vanuatu a country?
- Yes. Vanuatu is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- How big is Vanuatu?
- Vanuatu covers 12,189 km², ranking 164th of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Qatar.
- What is the population of Vanuatu?
- Vanuatu has a population of about 327,777, which makes it the 182nd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Martinique sits just above it and Mayotte just below.
- Where is Vanuatu located?
- Vanuatu is in Melanesia, part of Oceania. Its reference coordinates are 16.0° south and 167.0° east, roughly 1,781 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
