Port Vila

Port Vila, or simply Vila, is the capital of Vanuatu and its largest city. It is located on the island of Efate, in Shefa Province.

Situated on the west coast of Efate, Port Vila is the economic and commercial center of Vanuatu. In August 2024, Jenny Regenvanu became the city's first woman mayor, representing the Land and Justice Party. Her deputy was Marie Louise Milne from the Green Confederation.

Name

The town is often called "Vila" in French, Bislama, or English /ˈviːlə/ VEE-lə. In the local South Efate language, the area is called Efil, and in the nearby Mele-Fila language, it is called Ifira. The name "Vila" comes from these local names. Ifira is a small island in Vila Harbour where many traditional landowners live.

History

Melanesian people have lived in the Port Vila area for thousands of years. In 2004, an expedition called Teouma found a burial site with many old skeletons and pieces of pottery.

Efate Island was first charted in 1774 by James Cook, who called it Sandwich Island. He noticed good harbors and land that could be good for settlement. In the late 1800s, the islands were known as the New Hebrides, and both the French and British were there.

After 1887, the area was managed by both the French and British. This became official in 1906 as an Anglo-French Condominium. During World War II, Port Vila was used as an airbase by American and Australian forces.

In 1987, Cyclone Uma caused damage to the city. A earthquake in 2002 caused some damage. In 2015, Cyclone Pam, a very strong storm, caused massive damage. In 2024, a large earthquake damaged many houses in Port Vila.

Geography

Port Vila has a tropical climate, so it is warm and rainy most of the year. The city gets a lot of rain, with March being the rainiest month and September the driest. The temperature stays steady, with February being the warmest and July the coolest.

Port Vila is the main hub for trade and travel in Vanuatu. It has the country's biggest harbour and the international airport, Bauerfield International (VLI). Air Vanuatu is based there. Farming and fishing are important, but tourism is growing, especially from Australia and New Zealand. The city also helps with international finance because Vanuatu is a tax haven. The country relies on help from Australia, New Zealand, and more recently China. Most of Vanuatu's exports leave from Port Vila, and most imports arrive there.

Population

Culture and education

Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, has many interesting sights. You can see memorials with traditional totem poles and a monument shaped like a pig's tusk. There are beautiful buildings like the Presbyterian Church and colorful wall paintings on some buildings. The city also has a natural harbor with a nearby island.

The Vanuatu Cultural Centre, home to the Vanuatu National Museum, shows traditional artifacts and helps keep local culture alive. Port Vila is also home to the University of the South Pacific, where students can study languages and law. The city has many schools for children, including international schools and local secondary schools.

Football (or soccer) is very popular in Port Vila, with local leagues for both men and women. The city has produced some of Vanuatu's most successful football teams.

Main article: Vanuatu Cultural Centre

Institutions

Municipality

Port Vila is divided into four parts, each with its own neighborhoods. These parts choose members for a council that helps run the city. The council looks after important things such as schools, health care, roads, parks, and cleaning the city.

Some places, like Blacksands, are part of the city but are not officially managed by the council. These areas can have difficult living conditions. The last election for the council was in 2022.

Politics

Port Vila has its own local council called the Port Vila City Council. It has a lord mayor or lady mayor. Jenny Regenvanu is the current lady mayor. She is the first woman to hold this job. She belongs to the Land and Justice Party.

Port Vila is a voting area in Vanuatu. It chooses five Members of Parliament. Two main parties have been strong here: the Union of Moderate Parties and the Vanua'aku Pati. Over time, support for these parties has changed. Other smaller parties and independent candidates have also gained votes. In recent elections, the Union of Moderate Parties has often been the most popular party in the city.

Member	Party
Harry Anthony Iarrish	Union of Moderate Parties
Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau	Union of Moderate Parties
Jackson Lessa	Leaders Party of Vanuatu
Marie Louise Paulette Milne	Green Confederation
Ralph Regenvanu	Land and Justice Party

General election results in Port Vila
Year	GC		GJP		NUP		UMP		VP		O
Year	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S	%	S
2025	6.55%	1	10.12%	1	5.15%	0	26.24%	2	11.48%	0	40.46%	1
2022	5.72%	0	12.57%	1	2.40%	0	12.91%	2	6.98%	0	53.94%	2
2020	5.34%	0	9.74%	1	3.10%	0	19.42%	2	6.15%	1	56.25%	1
2016	6.77%	1	7.52%	1	1.99%	0	13.61%	1	8.33%	1	61.78%	2
2012	5.75%	1	17.15%	1	2.57%	0	11.01%	2	13.33%	1	50.19%	1
2008	6.88%	1	—N/a	—N/a	8.89%	1	7.90%	0	10.07%	1	66.26%	2
2004	6.54%	1	—N/a	—N/a	6.17%	1	14.44%	1	10.89%	1	61.96%	1
2002	8.11%	1	—N/a	—N/a	9.37%	1	12.82%	1	22.22%	2	47.48%	1
1998	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	6.21%	0	18.22%	2	25.60%	3	49.97%	1
1995	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	19.35%	1	27.04%	2	37.67%	3	15.94%	0
1991	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	18.12%	1	33.38%	2	23.83%	2	24.67%	0
1987	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	—N/a	52.77%	3	40.13%	2	7.10%	0

Transportation

Port Vila has an airport called Bauerfield International Airport. Many airplanes fly there with passengers and goods.

In May 2024, Air Vanuatu, owned by the government, stopped working for a short time. This made some flights change. After that, other airlines, like Qantas, helped bring back more flights to places such as Australia.