OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Vanuatu

DATE OF FORMATION: 1980

POPULATION: 217,000

DENSITY: 46 people per square mile

LANGUAGES: Bislama (Melanesian pidgin), English, French, other indigenous languages

RELIGIONS: Presbyterian 37%, Other 19%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, Traditional beliefs 8%, Seventh-day Adventist 6%

ETHNIC MIX: Melanesian 94%, Other 3%, Polynesian 3%

GOVERNMENT: Multiparty elections

CURRENCY: Vatu