Vanuatu Cultural Groups

Oceania Vanuatu

189,618 (2000 est.). There were approximately a million inhabitants in 1800 but diseases contracted from missionaries and other factors reduced the population to its lowest point of 45,000 by 1935. Indigenous Melanesian constitutes 94%, French 5% of the population. In 2000 religious persuasion was 37% Presbyterian, 15% Roman Catholic, 15% Anglican, 10% other Christian, and 23% indigenous beliefs and other.

The population is about 190,000. 94 percent are ni-Vanuatu, of Melanesian descent. The rest are European, Vietnamese, Chinese, and other Pacific islanders.