Vanuatu - a string of more than 80 islands once known as the New Hebrides - achieved independence from France and Britain in 1980. Most of the islands are inhabited; some have active volcanoes.
Vanuatu is mountainous and much of it is covered with tropical rainforests. Like most of the area, it is prone to earthquakes and tidal waves. Most of the people live in rural areas and practise subsistence agriculture.
Vanuatu has been spared the unrest which has befallen neighbouring countries such as the Solomon Islands and Fiji, although the largest island, Espiritu Santo, experienced a brief insurrection in 1980.
Local traditions are strong. Women, for example, generally have lower social standing than men and have fewer educational opportunities.
Despite strong growth, the economy has struggled to meet the needs of Vanuatu's expanding population.
The main sources of revenue are agriculture and eco-tourism. Both depend on the weather, and when, as in 1999, cyclones and persistent rain hit Vanuatu, both suffer.
Tax revenue is derived from import duties, and neither personal income nor company profits are taxed.
Vanuatu tightened up its tax and regulatory systems after the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned that it could face sanctions if lax taxation regimes were exploited by criminals for money-laundering.
Australia, a key donor, has pushed for good governance and economic reform in the islands.
Full name: Republic of Vanuatu Population: 245,800 (UN, 2010) Capital: Port-Vila Area: 12,190 sq km (4,707 sq miles) Major languages: Bislama, French, English Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 vatu = 100 centimes Main exports: Copra, timber, beef, cocoa GNI per capita: US $2,620 (World Bank, 2009) Internet domain: .vu International dialling code: +678President: Iolu Abil
Iolu Abil was chosen as president by Vanuatu's electoral college - comprising the 52 members of parliament and the heads of the six provincial governments - in September 2009.
He served as a cabinet minister in the first Vanuatu government after the country gained independence in 1980.
He succeeded Kalkot Mataskelekele when his five-year term in office expired.
Prime minister: Sato Kilman
Sato Kilman became prime minister when his predecessor, Edward Natapei, was removed by a vote of confidence in parliament on 2 December 2010.
Mr Kilman had until then been serving as deputy to Mr Natapei, whose Vanuaaku Party was in coalition with Mr Kilman's Alliance bloc.
In 2010, Mr Natapei was ousted hours after leaving the country for UN climate change talks. He had earlier pushed to suspend five MPs seeking a no confidence motion against the PM.
Mr Natapei had also clashed with MPs over his role in blocking Fiji's military ruler, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, from taking the rotating lead in a regional trade group.
Mr Kilman and his Alliance bloc had been in opposition until November 2009, when Mr Natapei ditched his previous coalition partners, including the National United Party of Ham Lini, his predecessor, who was replaced by Mr Kilman as deputy PM.
From 2004-7, Mr Kilman served as foreign minister in Mr Lini's government, but was dismissed in a cabinet reshuffle.
Edward Natapei came to power when his party emerged as the largest group in parliament after elections in September 2008, pledging to continue Mr Lini's reforms. He had been PM once before, between 2001 and 2004.
He was briefly stripped of his position in November 2009 because of a paperwork error - he missed three consecutive parliamentary sittings without providing a written explanation.
The single TV channel on Vanuatu was established with the help of Radio France Overseas (RFO) and broadcasts in French and English.
Radio Vanuatu runs a shortwave and medium wave (AM) service, as well as a commercial FM station.
BBC World Service (99 MHz), Radio Australia, Radio France Internationale and China Radio International are available on FM.
There is a government newspaper, Vanuatu Weekly, and a handful of privately-owned papers.
There were 17,000 internet users by November 2008 (InternetWorldStats).
The press
Television
Radio
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