History of Vanuatu in Timeline
Vanuatu is an island nation located in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, formed by volcanoes, is situated 1,750 km east of northern Australia, 540 km northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of the Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji.
1929: Vietnamese Population Peak
The Vietnamese community in Vanuatu comprised 10% of the total population in 1929.
1945: Volcanic Eruption
A volcanic eruption took place in Vanuatu in 1945.
1966: Nagriamel Movement Founded
The Nagriamel movement was founded in 1966 on Espiritu Santo by Chief Buluk and Jimmy Stevens to oppose land clearances and promote Ni-Vanuatu-led economic development.
1967: Crackdown on Nagriamel Movement
Following a crackdown by authorities in 1967, Buluk and Stevens were arrested.
1971: New Hebrides National Party Established & Land Speculation
In 1971, Father Walter Lini founded the New Hebrides National Party (NHNP), focused on independence and opposing land expropriation. The Condominium government intervened after a surge in land speculation by foreign nationals in 1971.
November 1974: New Hebrides Representative Assembly Agreed Upon
In November 1974, Britain and France agreed to create the New Hebrides Representative Assembly.
November 1975: First Assembly Elections and Disputes
The first Assembly elections in November 1975 resulted in an NHNP victory, disputed by Moderates, leading to threats of secession and postponed Assembly opening.
November 1976: Assembly Convenes
After discussions and some new elections, the Assembly finally convened in November 1976.
March 1977: Joint Anglo-French and Ni-Vanuatu Conference
A joint conference in London in March 1977 agreed on fresh Assembly elections and an independence referendum in 1980, which the VP boycotted.
1977: Economic Boom and Urbanization
By 1977, Vanuatu experienced an economic boom with increased tourism and urbanization in Port Vila and Luganville due to the building of a deep-sea wharf.
1977: NHNP Becomes Vanua'aku Pati
The NHNP renamed itself the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) in 1977, supporting immediate independence and Anglicisation.
November 1979: Government of National Unity and VP Election Win
Following a compromise, a Government of National Unity was formed, and the VP won the November 1979 elections, with independence scheduled for July 1980.
July 1980: Scheduled Independence Date
Independence was scheduled for July 30, 1980.
July 1980: Vanuatu Achieves Independence
Vanuatu achieved independence on July 30, 1980, under Prime Minister Walter Lini.
1980: Tensions and Rebellions
Throughout 1980, tensions rose, with violent confrontations and rebellions on Espiritu Santo and Tanna. The Republic of Vemarana was declared on Espiritu Santo.
1980: Planned Independence Referendum
An independence referendum was planned for 1980.
1980: Halt of Manganese Mining
Manganese mining operations ceased in Vanuatu around 1980.
1983: Lini Wins Second Election
Walter Lini won the second general election in 1983.
1987: Lini Wins Third Election
Walter Lini won his third general election in 1987.
1987: Challenges to Lini's Power
In 1987, opposition to Lini grew, including the formation of the Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP) and an unsuccessful attempt to unseat him.
1989: Primary School Enrollment
The primary school enrollment rate in Vanuatu was 74.5% in 1989.
September 1991: Lini Removed from Power, Kalpokas Becomes Prime Minister
On September 6, 1991, a vote of no confidence removed Lini from power, and Donald Kalpokas became prime minister.
1991: Primary Education Completion
90% of pupils completed primary education in 1991.
1991: UMP Wins Election and Forms Coalition
The Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) won the 1991 election and formed a coalition government with Lini's National United Party (NUP), with Maxime Carlot Korman as prime minister.
1991: End of Lini's Time in Office
Walter Lini remained Prime Minister until 1991.
1993: Civil Service Strikes
The UMP government faced civil service strikes in 1993.
1994: Civil Service Strikes Dealt With
The government dealt with the civil service strikes through a series of firings in 1994.
1996: Abduction of Vohor and President Léyé
In 1996, Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman and President Jean-Marie Léyé were briefly kidnapped by members of the Vanuatu Mobile Force due to a disagreement over pay. They were later safely released.
1997: Asian Development Bank Aid Package
Vanuatu received a substantial aid package from the Asian Development Bank in 1997, contributing to the country's economic growth.
1998: Port Vila Riot and Comprehensive Reform Program
A riot broke out in Port Vila in 1998 as people tried to withdraw their savings from the Vanuatu National Provident Fund amid allegations of financial misconduct. The government responded by declaring a state of emergency. Also in 1998, a Comprehensive Reform Program was implemented to boost the economy and combat government corruption. The 1998 general election saw the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) lose power to the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) under Donald Kalpokas.
1999: Kalpokas Resignation and Sopé's Rise
In 1999, Prime Minister Donald Kalpokas resigned while facing a potential no-confidence vote. Barak Sopé of the Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP) then became prime minister.
1999: Increase in Primary School Enrollment
The primary school enrollment rate rose to 78.2% in 1999.
1999: Indigenous Language Use
In 1999, 73.1% of Vanuatu's population spoke indigenous languages.
2000: Tourism Figures
In 2000, Vanuatu recorded 57,000 tourist visitors, with the majority coming from Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
2001: Sopé Ousted
Barak Sopé was removed from his position as prime minister through a vote of no confidence in 2001.
2001: Natapei Becomes Prime Minister
Edward Natapei of the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) became prime minister of Vanuatu in 2001.
2002: Natapei Wins General Election
Edward Natapei and the VP secured victory in the 2002 Vanuatuan general election.
2002: Death of Grace Mera Molisa
Grace Mera Molisa, a women's rights activist and poet, passed away in 2002.
2003: Removal from OECD Tax Haven List
In 2003, Vanuatu was taken off the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) list of "uncooperative tax havens."
2004: Peak in Primary School Enrollment
Vanuatu reached a peak primary school enrollment rate of 93.0% in 2004.
2004: Vohor Returns and Loses Power
Serge Vohor and the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) returned to power after winning the 2004 general election. However, Vohor lost support due to a secret agreement to recognize Taiwan, and he was removed from office through a vote of no confidence less than five months later. Ham Lini replaced him.
2005: Land Use Estimate
In 2005, it was estimated that only 9% of Vanuatu's land was used for agriculture.
2005: US Millennium Challenge Fund Aid
Vanuatu received aid from the US Millennium Challenge fund in 2005, which further fueled the country's economic growth.
2006: Manganese Export Agreement
An agreement was reached in 2006 to export previously mined but unexported manganese.
2006: Happy Planet Index Ranking
Vanuatu was ranked first in the Happy Planet Index, published by the New Economics Foundation and Friends of the Earth in 2006.
2007: Crop Garden Statistics
In 2007, Vanuatu had 97,888 crop gardens, with a significant portion located on flat land (62%) and slightly hilly slopes (31%). Out of the 33,570 households with crop gardens, 10,788 sold some of their produce over a twelve-month period.
2007: Estimate of Muslim Converts
In 2007, it was estimated that there were about 200 Muslim converts in Vanuatu.
2007: 2007 Agricultural Census
The Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO) conducted an agricultural census in 2007, which revealed that agricultural exports comprised 73% of all exports, 80% of the population resided in rural areas dependent on agriculture, and 99% of rural households engaged in agriculture, fisheries, or forestry. The total annual household income was 1,803 million vatu.
2007: Decline in Primary School Enrollment
The primary school enrollment rate decreased to 85.4% in 2007.
2007: Tourism Increase
Tourism in Vanuatu experienced a growth of 17% between 2007 and 2008.
2007: Clashes in Port Vila
Violent confrontations occurred between migrants from Tanna and Ambrym in Port Vila in 2007, resulting in two fatalities.
November 2008: Undersea Volcanic Eruption
An undersea volcanic eruption with a magnitude of 6.4 occurred near Vanuatu in November 2008, resulting in no casualties.
2008: Tourism Reaches 196,134 Arrivals
The number of tourist arrivals in Vanuatu reached 196,134 in 2008, marking a substantial increase from previous years.
2008: Vanuatu Adopts International Financial Norms
Under international pressure, primarily from Australia, the Vanuatu government began to adhere to international norms for financial transparency in 2008.
2008: Population Growth and Environmental Pressures
In 2008, Vanuatu's population was estimated to be growing at an annual rate of 2.4%, leading to increased pressure on land and resources for agriculture, grazing, hunting, and fishing.
2008: 2007 Agricultural Census Released
The VNSO released the findings of the 2007 agricultural census in 2008. The census highlighted the importance of agriculture to Vanuatu's economy and rural livelihoods.
2008: Natapei Returns to Power
Edward Natapei returned to power after the 2008 general election, marking the start of a turbulent period in Vanuatu politics.
November 2009: Natapei Briefly Removed
Edward Natapei was briefly removed from office in November 2009 due to a procedural technicality. However, the Chief Justice later overturned this decision.
2009: Decline in Indigenous Language Use
The use of indigenous languages in Vanuatu declined to 63.2% of the population by 2009, due to the increasing dominance of Bislama as a first language.
December 2010: Kilman Ousts Natapei
Sato Kilman of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) successfully removed Edward Natapei from power through a no-confidence vote in December 2010.
2010: Baháʼí Faith Membership
In 2010, 1.4% of Vanuatu's population were members of the Baháʼí Faith.
April 2011: Kilman and Vohor's Political Maneuvering
Sato Kilman was briefly removed from his position as prime minister by Serge Vohor's UMP in April 2011. This removal was declared invalid, and Kilman was reinstated. However, the Chief Justice later overturned Kilman's reinstatement, leading to the brief return of Natapei to power before Parliament voted Kilman back in.
2011: Vanuatu Joins World Trade Organization
Vanuatu became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2011.
2012: Increase in Primary Education Completion
The primary education completion rate increased to 78% in 2012.
March 2013: Kilman Ousted
Sato Kilman was ousted from his position as prime minister in March 2013 through a vote of no confidence.
2014: Kalosil Ousted, Natuman Rises
Moana Carcasses Kalosil was removed from his position as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in 2014. Joe Natuman of the VP then became prime minister.
March 2015: Cyclone Pam Devastates Vanuatu
In March 2015, Cyclone Pam, a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, caused significant damage and fatalities across Vanuatu. The official death toll was initially reported as 11, with expectations of a higher final count.
March 2015: Cyclone Pam Devastates Vanuatu
In March 2015, Cyclone Pam, a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone, caused significant damage and fatalities across Vanuatu. The official death toll was initially reported as 11, with expectations of a higher final count.
2015: Cyclone Pam and Natuman Ousted
Vanuatu was severely impacted by Cyclone Pam in 2015, which caused widespread devastation and resulted in 16 deaths. Joe Natuman was removed from power through a no-confidence vote led by Sato Kilman in the same year.
2015: Corruption Investigation and Convictions
In 2015, a corruption investigation led to the conviction of several members of Parliament in Sato Kilman's government for bribery, including former Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil.
2016: Salwai Wins General Election
Charlot Salwai of the Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) won the 2016 general election, defeating Sato Kilman.
2017: Decline in Vietnamese Population
The Vietnamese population in Vanuatu decreased to approximately 1,000 individuals (0.3% of the total population) by 2017.
2018: Prince Charles III Visits Vanuatu
King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, visited Vanuatu in 2018 and met with some tribal leaders.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index
Vanuatu achieved a mean score of 8.82 out of 10 on the 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index, ranking 18th globally.
April 2020: Cyclone Harold Hits Luganville
Cyclone Harold struck the town of Luganville on Espiritu Santo island in April 2020, resulting in significant material damage there and on at least four other islands.
November 2020: Vanuatu's First COVID-19 Case
Vanuatu recorded its first case of COVID-19 in November 2020.
2020: Population Census
The 2020 census recorded Vanuatu's population at 300,019, with a majority residing in rural areas.
2021: Vanuatu Tops Disaster Risk Ranking
According to the WorldRiskIndex 2021, Vanuatu held the highest disaster risk ranking globally.
2022: Religious Demographics
As of 2022, 3.6% of Vanuatu's population belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with over 11,000 members.
July 2023: Loss of UK Visa-Free Access
Vanuatu lost visa-free access to the UK in July 2023 due to concerns regarding its citizenship by investment program.
October 2023: Vanuatu Aims to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
In October 2023, Vanuatu set a goal of becoming the first Pacific nation to eradicate cervical cancer.
2024: Happy Planet Index Ranking
Vanuatu was ranked first in the Happy Planet Index, published by the New Economics Foundation and Friends of the Earth in 2024.