Provinces of Vanuatu
Vanuatu is divided into six provinces. It has been divided this way since 1994.
| Province | Capital | main islands | Land Area (km²) |
Population Census 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malampa | Lakatoro | Ambrym, Malakula, Paama | 2,779 | 32,705 |
| Penama | Longana | Pentecost Island, Ambae, Maéwo | 1,198 | 26,646 |
| Sanma | Luganville | Santo, Malo | 4,248 | 36,084 |
| Shefa | Port Vila | Efate, Shepherd Islands | 1,455 | 54,439 |
| Tafea | Isangel | Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango, Anatom | 1,628 | 29,047 |
| Torba | Sola | Banks and Torres Islands | 882 | 7,757 |
| Vanuatu | Port Vila | 12,189 | 186,678 |
Municipalities
The provinces are divided into municipalities (usually consisting of an individual island) headed by a council and a mayor elected from among the members of the council.
Island Regions (historical)
From 1985 to 1994 Vanuatu was divided into eleven island regions:
| Island Region |
Capital | part of current Province |
Land Area (km²) |
Population Census 1999 or estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambae & Maéwo | Longana | Penama | 708 | 14,646 |
| Ambrym | Eas | Malampa | 678 | 7,787 |
| Banks & Torres | Sola | Torba | 882 | 7,757 |
| Éfaté | Port Vila | Shefa | 915 | 50,000 |
| Epi | Ringdove | Shefa | 451 | 3,000 |
| Malakula | Lakatoro | Malampa | 2,043 | 23,361 |
| Paama | Liro | Malampa | 58 | 1,557 |
| Pentecost | Loltong | Penama | 490 | 12,000 |
| Santo & Malo | Luganville | Sanma | 4,248 | 36,084 |
| Shepherd Islands | Morua | Shefa | 89 | 1,439 |
| Taféa | Isangel | Taféa | 1,628 | 29,047 |
| New Hebrides | Port Vila | 12,189 | 186,678 |
Districts (historical)
During the Condominium era, specifically from 1968 to 1984 the group was divided into four administrative districts:
| District | Capital | Main Islands | Current Provinces |
Land Area (km²) |
Population Census 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern District (Tanna) |
Lénakel | Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango, Anatom | Tafea | 1,628 | 29,047 |
| Central District 1 (Efaté) |
Port Vila | Efate, Epi, Shepherd Islands | Shefa | 1,455 | 54,439 |
| Central District 2 (Malékoula) |
Lamap | Ambrym, Malakula, Paama, Pentecôte | Malampa, Penama (part) | 3,269 | 44,705 |
| Northern District (Santo) |
Luganville | Santo, Malo, Banks and Torres Islands, Aoba, Maewo | Sanma, Torba, Penama (part) | 5,838 | 58,487 |
| Vanuatu | Port Vila | 12,189 | 186,678 |