| 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 land: 12,189 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited |
| Area - comparative | slightly larger than Connecticut |
| Land boundaries | total: 0 km |
| Coastline | 2,528 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 |
| Terrain | mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m |
| Natural resources | manganese, hardwood forests, fish |
| Land use | agricultural land: 15.3% (2018 est.) arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.4% (2018 est.) forest: 36.1% (2018 est.) other: 48.6% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km (2012) |
| Total renewable water resources | 10 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021
