Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:
16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 12,189 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 12,189 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 163

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
2,528 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:
agricultural land: 15.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 1.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 10.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 3.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 36.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 48.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; three largest islands - Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate - accomodate over half of the populace

Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began on 27 November 2005, 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

Environment - current issues:
population growth; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes and there are several underwater volcanoes as well