Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean.
The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres (310 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.
Capital and largest city: Port Vila
Official languages: Bislama, English, French
Demonym: Ni-Vanuatu; Vanuatuan
Government: Parliamentary republic
- President Iolu Abil
- Prime Minister Sato Kilman
Independence from France and the UK - Date 30 July 1980
Area - Total 12,190 km2 (161st)
Population - 2009 census 243,304[1]
- Density 19.7/km2 (188th)