World Factbook
Vanuatu
Ripablik blong Vanuatu
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
12,189 sq km
note
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
water
0 sq km
total
12,189 sq km
Climate
tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Terrain
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Land use
other
9.8% (2023 est.)
forest
74.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
15.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Coastline
2,528 km
Elevation
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
note
note: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
tropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic activity; volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head
Geography - note
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes, including several underwater volcanoes
Natural resources
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Connecticut
Geographic coordinates
16 00 S, 167 00 E
Population distribution
three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace