Editing Port Vila

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Vanuatu}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2024}}{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=February 2007}}
{{Expand Spanish|Port Vila|topic=geo|date=December 2009}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Port Vila
| other_name         = Vila
| native_name        = 
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Port Vila aerial.jpg
| photo2a = Vanuatu Parliament, Port Vila - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg
| photo2b = Port Vila Vanuatu Harbour.JPG
| photo3a = PortVilaCityHall.jpg
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
| image_caption      = From top: left to right – aerial view of central Port Vila, Parliament building, Port Vila Harbour and Port Vila City Hall.
| image_flag         = File:Flag_of_Port Vila.svg
| pushpin_map        = Vanuatu
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Vanuatu
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Vanuatu}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Vanuatu|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Shefa Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of islands of Vanuatu|Island]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Efate]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Jenny Regenvanu]] ([[Land and Justice Party|GJP]])
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| area_total_km2     = 23.6
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |title=2020 National Population and Housing Census – Basic Tables Report, Volume 1, Version 2 |date=2021-11-17 |website=vnso.gov.vu |publisher=[[Vanuatu National Statistics Office]] |access-date=2023-09-05 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905022046/https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| population_total   = 49034
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = VUT
| utc_offset         = +11
| coordinates        = {{coord|17|44|S|168|19|E|region:VU|display=it}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 59
| elevation_ft       = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Port Vila''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|VEE|lə}}; {{langx|fr|Port-Vila}} {{IPA|fr|pɔʁ vila|}}), or simply '''Vila''' ({{IPA|bi|viˈla|lang}}), is the [[capital city|capital]] of [[Vanuatu]] and its largest city. It is on the [[Efate|island of Efate]], in [[Shefa Province]].

The population was 49,034 as of the [[2020 Vanuatu census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |title=2020 National Population and Housing Census – Basic Tables Report, Volume 1, Version 2 |date=2021-11-17 |website=vnso.gov.vu |publisher=[[Vanuatu National Statistics Office]] |access-date=2023-09-05 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905022046/https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2020, the population of Port Vila formed 16.3% of the country's population.

Located on the east coast of the island of Efate, Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of Vanuatu. The mayor is Jenny Regenvanu of the [[Land and Justice Party]], the first woman to hold the position, elected in August 2024. Her deputy was [[Marie Louise Milne]], of the [[Green Confederation]], until the seat was vacated in January 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Anita |title=First female Mayor urges respect for PVCC |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/first-female-mayor-urges-respect-for-pvcc/article_d200c211-9125-53ba-b375-7295a3dfe03f.html |website=Daily Post |date=6 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809231840/https://www.dailypost.vu/news/first-female-mayor-urges-respect-for-pvcc/article_d200c211-9125-53ba-b375-7295a3dfe03f.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Malapa |first=Terence |date=2025-01-25 |title=Port Vila City Council Deputy Mayor seat vacant |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/port-vila-city-council-deputy-mayor-seat-vacant/article_08269896-85a1-5e16-8510-8d2a938ea05c.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Vanuatu Daily Post |language=en}}</ref>

== Name ==
Locally, the town is most commonly referred to simply as "Vila", whether in French or [[Bislama]] {{IPA|bi|viˈla|}} or in English {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|VEE|lə}} (not like English "villa").<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port-Vila pronunciation: How to pronounce Port-Vila in French, English |url=https://forvo.com/word/port-vila/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Forvo.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How to pronounce Port Vila in English – Definition of Port Vila in English |url=https://forvo.com/word/port_vila/#bi |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Forvo.com |language=en |archive-date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911225820/http://forvo.com/word/port_vila/#bi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of PORT-VILA |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Port-Vila |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en |archive-date=20 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220111135/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/port-vila |url-status=live }}</ref>

The name of the area is ''Efil'' in the native [[South Efate language]] and ''Ifira'' in neighbouring [[Mele-Fila language]]. ''Vila'' is a variant of these names. [[Ifira]] is a small island in Vila harbour where many traditional landowners reside.

== History ==
[[Melanesian people]] have occupied the Port Vila area for thousands of years. In the autumn of 2004, an archaeological expedition known as ''[[Teouma]]'' discovered a burial site of 25 tombs containing three dozen skeletons of members of the [[Lapita]] culture. Pieces of ceramics found at the site were dated to the 13th century BC.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

Efate Island was charted in 1774 by [[James Cook]], who named it Sandwich Island. Cook's expedition did not land but noted the presence of good harbours and land suitable for European settlement. In the late 19th century, when the islands were known as the [[New Hebrides]], the British initially had the dominant European presence. However, by the 1890s, the economic balance had begun favouring the French, who established large plantations. French citizen Ferdinand Chevillard began buying and clearing land around Port Vila to be converted into the largest French plantation on the island. Instead, it was converted into the municipality of [[Franceville, New Hebrides|Franceville]], which declared independence on 9 August 1889, though this only lasted until June of the following year.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

After 1887, the territory was jointly administered by the [[French colonial empire|French]] and the [[British Empire|British]]. This was formalized in 1906 as an Anglo-French [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]]. During [[World War II]], Port Vila was an American and Australian airbase.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

In 1987, [[Cyclone Uma]] severely damaged the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyclone Uma ravages Vanuatu – UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/02/08/Cyclone-Uma-ravages-Vanuatu/9578539758800/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> A [[2002 Port Vila earthquake|powerful earthquake]] on 3 January 2002 caused minor damage in the capital and surrounding areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vanuatu – Earthquake and Tsunami of 2 January 2002 – Dr. George Pararas-Carayannis – |url=https://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami2002Vanuatu.html |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=drgeorgepc.com}}</ref> 

The city suffered massive damage from a category 5 cyclone named [[Cyclone Pam]] on 13 March 2015, whose [[Eye (cyclone)|eye wall]] passed just to the east of Port Vila.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2015/03/13/cyclone-pam-direct-hit-Vanuatu|author=Andrew Freedman|title=Monstrous Category 5 cyclone makes direct hit on tiny Vanuatu |publisher=Mashable|date=13 March 2015|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712081608/https://mashable.com/2015/03/13/cyclone-pam-direct-hit-vanuatu/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 December 2024, [[2024 Port Vila earthquake|a magnitude 7.3 earthquake]] reportedly damaged almost every single house in Port Vila, resulting in 16 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 December 2024|title=Live: Rescue efforts continue in Vanuatu, international assistance begins to arrive|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537080/live-rescue-efforts-continue-in-vanuatu-international-assistance-begins-to-arrive|access-date=18 December 2024|work=[[Radio New Zealand]]|archive-date=18 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218174824/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537080/live-rescue-efforts-continue-in-vanuatu-international-assistance-begins-to-arrive|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs]] estimated that 116,000 people had been directly affected by the earthquake,<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2024 |title=Buildings 'pancaked' in Vanuatu as 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific nation |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3291135/buildings-pancaked-vanuatu-74-magnitude-earthquake-rocks-pacific-nation |access-date=17 December 2024 |work=South China Morning Post}}</ref> equivalent to a third of Vanuatu's population.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 December 2024 |title=Vanuatu earthquake death toll rises to 14 as rescuers search for survivors |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/18/vanuatu-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-fourteen-as-rescuers-scramble-for-survivors |access-date=18 December 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |archive-date=18 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218030106/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/18/vanuatu-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-fourteen-as-rescuers-scramble-for-survivors |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geography ==
=== Climate ===
Port Vila has a [[tropical climate]], more specifically a [[tropical rainforest climate]], with noticeably wetter and drier months. As the trade winds are almost permanent and cyclones are not rare in Port Vila, the climate is not equatorial but maritime trade-wind tropical climate.<ref>"Climatologie" by Pierre Estienne and Alain Godard, Éditions Armand Colin ({{ISBN|2-200-31042-0}}), "CHAPITRE XVI 1. Les climats équatoriaux et subéquatoriaux 2. Les climats tropicaux 3. Les climats d'alizé 4. Les climats de montagne LES CLIMATS DE LA ZONE INTERTROPICALE : LES VARIÉTÉS", pages 314, 315 and 322.</ref> Rainfall averages about {{convert|2,338.9|mm|in|2|disp=or}} per year, and the wettest month is March. The driest month is September. There are 153 wet days in an average year. The area also has south-east [[trade winds]]. Temperatures do not vary much throughout the year, and the record high is {{convert|35.6|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The coolest month, July, has an average high of {{convert|27|C|F|1|disp=or}}, and an average low of {{convert|18|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The hottest month, February, has an average high of {{convert|31.2|C|F|1|disp=or}} and an average low of {{convert|23|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The record low for Port Vila is {{convert|8.5|C|F|1|disp=or}}. [[Humidity]] is often high.

{{Weather box
|location = Port Vila, Vanuatu ([[Bauerfield International Airport]])
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 35.0
|Feb record high C = 33.9
|Mar record high C = 33.5
|Apr record high C = 32.5
|May record high C = 31.1
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 34.3
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 31.5
|Oct record high C = 31.2
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 35.6
|year record high C = 35.6
|Jan high C = 31.3
|Feb high C = 31.2
|Mar high C = 30.8
|Apr high C = 29.9
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 27.4
|Jul high C = 26.4
|Aug high C = 27.0
|Sep high C = 27.7
|Oct high C = 28.5
|Nov high C = 29.2
|Dec high C = 30.7
|year high C = 29.1
|Jan mean C = 26.4
|Feb mean C = 26.5
|Mar mean C = 26.3
|Apr mean C = 25.3
|May mean C = 24.1
|Jun mean C = 23.0
|Jul mean C = 22.1
|Aug mean C = 22.0
|Sep mean C = 22.7
|Oct mean C = 23.4
|Nov mean C = 24.6
|Dec mean C = 25.7
|year mean C = 24.3
|Jan low C = 22.5
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 22.6
|Apr low C = 22.0
|May low C = 20.2
|Jun low C = 19.8
|Jul low C = 18.2
|Aug low C = 18.0
|Sep low C = 18.4
|Oct low C = 19.6
|Nov low C = 20.7
|Dec low C = 21.7
|year low C = 20.5
|Jan record low C = 15.8
|Feb record low C = 15.0
|Mar record low C = 16.3
|Apr record low C = 14.5
|May record low C = 13.4
|Jun record low C = 10.0
|Jul record low C = 8.5
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 9.9
|Oct record low C = 11.0
|Nov record low C = 12.6
|Dec record low C = 15.2
|year record low C = 8.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 316.1
|Feb rain mm = 273.7
|Mar rain mm = 320.9
|Apr rain mm = 255.2
|May rain mm = 210.3
|Jun rain mm = 180.0
|Jul rain mm = 94.4
|Aug rain mm = 87.4
|Sep rain mm = 87.3
|Oct rain mm = 134.1
|Nov rain mm = 192.3
|Dec rain mm = 187.2
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 15.4
|Feb rain days = 16.6
|Mar rain days = 18.5
|Apr rain days = 17.1
|May rain days = 12.9
|Jun rain days = 11.3
|Jul rain days = 10.3
|Aug rain days = 9.8
|Sep rain days = 8.1
|Oct rain days = 8.4
|Nov rain days = 12.1
|Dec rain days = 13.2
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 85
|Mar humidity = 86
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 85
|Jun humidity = 85
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 83
|year humidity = 84
| Jan dew point C =24
| Feb dew point C =24
| Mar dew point C =24
| Apr dew point C =23
| May dew point C =21
| Jun dew point C =21
| Jul dew point C =20
| Aug dew point C =20
| Sep dew point C =20
| Oct dew point C =21
| Nov dew point C =22
| Dec dew point C =23
|Jan sun = 220.1
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 198.4
|Apr sun = 165.0
|May sun = 170.5
|Jun sun = 162.0
|Jul sun = 148.8
|Aug sun = 167.4
|Sep sun = 174.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 180.0
|Dec sun = 195.3
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 7.1
|Febd sun = 5.5
|Mard sun = 6.4
|Aprd sun = 5.5
|Mayd sun = 5.5
|Jund sun = 5.4
|Juld sun = 4.8
|Augd sun = 5.4
|Sepd sun = 5.8
|Octd sun = 6.4
|Novd sun = 6.0
|Decd sun = 6.3
|yeard sun = 5.8
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915570_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Vila (Int. Flugh.) / Insel Efaté / Vanuatu (Neue Hebriden)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 November 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170510172337/http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915570_kt.pdf
| archive-date = 10 May 2017
| url-status = dead
|date=March 2014}}</ref>

|source 2 =[https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate Time and Date] (dewpoints, between 2005–2015)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate
|title = Climate & Weather Averages at Bauerfield Efate weather station (91557)
|publisher = Time and Date
|access-date = 6 February 2022
|archive-date = 6 February 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220206183206/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate
|url-status = live
}}</ref>

}}

=== Economy and transport ===
{{See also|Economy of Vanuatu}}
Port Vila is Vanuatu's most important [[harbour]] and the center of the country's trade. The international airport, [[Bauerfield International Airport|Bauerfield International]] ('''VLI'''), is also located in the city. [[Air Vanuatu]] has its head office in Vanuatu House in Port Vila.<ref>"[http://www.airvanuatu.com/home/contact-us/contact-us.aspx Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215185510/http://www.airvanuatu.com/home/contact-us/contact-us.aspx |date=15 December 2016 }}." [[Air Vanuatu]]. Retrieved 22 June 2010.</ref>

Major industries in the city remain agriculture and fishing. Tourism is also becoming important, especially from [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. There were over 80,000 visitors in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International tourism, number of arrivals – Vanuatu {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=VU|access-date=2021-07-25|website=data.worldbank.org|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725043830/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=VU|url-status=live}}</ref>

Vanuatu is a [[tax haven]], and offshore financing in Port Vila is an important part of the economy.

Vanuatu is still dependent on [[foreign aid]], most of which comes from Australia and New Zealand, although in recent years, assistance has also come from [[China]]. One example was New Zealand paying to train doctors selected from the local community, then paying part of their wages during the first year after qualification. Australia has paid consultants to work in [[Port Vila Central Hospital]].

35.7% of exports leave from Port Vila, and 86.9% of imports arrive in Port Vila.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

== Population ==
=== Demographics ===
{{See also|Demographics of Vanuatu}}
[[File:Port-Vila cath Sacre Coeur.JPG|thumb|[[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila]]]]

The population is around 45,000; predominately [[Melanesia]]n, with small [[Polynesia]]n, Asian, Australian and European populations, mainly French and British.

=== Languages ===
Port Vila is home to many languages, reflecting the country's [[Languages of Vanuatu|high linguistic diversity]].

The capital city's daily [[lingua franca]] is [[Bislama]], but English and French are also widely spoken.

Among Vanuatu's 100 [[Languages of Vanuatu#Indigenous languages|indigenous languages]], many are spoken in the capital, as people from rural areas come to live in the city, either temporarily or permanently.

=== Religion ===
Christianity is the predominant religion across Vanuatu, followed by more than 90% of the population. The largest denomination is the [[Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu]], followed by one-third of the population. Roman Catholicism and the [[Church of Melanesia]] are also common, each about 15%. [[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila|Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur]] is a modern Roman Catholic cathedral in Port Vila. The seat of the Diocese of Port Vila,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/oceania/2269.htm|title=Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur|publisher=GCatholic.org|access-date=9 May 2013|archive-date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204020102/http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/oceania/2269.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> the church is dedicated to the [[Sacred Heart of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Les Missions catholiques|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzAMAAAAIAAJ|year=1938|language=fr|page=294}}</ref> On October 5, 2020, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] announced plans to construct a temple in the city, and the [[Baháʼí Faith]] community is also established in Port Vila.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/vanuatu|title=Baháʼí Community of Vanuatu|publisher=bahai.org|access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122162514/https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/vanuatu|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture and education ==

=== Highlights of the city ===
The capital of Vanuatu has various sights to offer. There are several memorials, e.g., opposite the Parliament, where two traditional totem poles and a monument representing a pig's tusk can be seen. The Presbyterian Church of Port Vila is an impressive and sightworthy building opposite the [[Independence Park, Port Vila|Independence Park]]. A colourful wall painting can be seen on the administration building opposite the market hall. Another noteworthy wall painting is on the façade of the post office. The City Hall of Port Vila is an oblong and sightworthy building on a hill in the city centre.

{{Gallery
|title=Cityscape
|align=center
|File:PortVilaPresbyterianChurch.jpg|Presbyterian Church
|File:PortVilaWallPainting.jpg|Wall painting opposite the market
|File:Vanuatu Parliament, Port Vila - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|Vanuatu Parliament
|File:PortVilaMemorialAtParliament.jpg|Memorial opposite the Parliament building
|File:Port Vila market.jpg|Market hall
|File:PortVilaMarketHall.jpg|Market 
|File:PortVilaPostOffice.jpg|Post office. The building once marked the unofficial demarcation between the two sectors of Port Vila, the British Paddock to the south and the Quartier français to the north
|File:Port Vila Vanuatu Harbour.JPG|The natural harbour as viewed from town looking out at sea with Iririki Island to the left
|File:PortVilaCityHall.jpg|City Hall
|File:Port Vila - The Biggest Casino - panoramio.jpg|Grand Hotel and Casino Vanuatu, the tallest building in the country
}}

=== Vanuatu Cultural Centre ===
{{main|Vanuatu Cultural Centre}}
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre, hosting the [[National Museum of Vanuatu|Vanuatu National Museum]], is located at the Saralana Park in front of the National Parliament, close to the National Library and the [[Malvatumauri]] (Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs). This institution is an important place to preserve and promote the different aspects of the local culture. Traditional artifacts from several islands are on display in the museum. The centre also hosts the National Audiovisual Archives, the most critical fund of documents from the late 19th century until today.

=== World Heritage ===
Port Vila was the location in August 1999 for the "2nd World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific Islands Region" held by [[UNESCO]]. One of the major topics related to Vanuatu and the Pacific region was the question of the suitability of [[underwater archeology|underwater heritage]] for inscription on the [[World Heritage List]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/vanuatu99.htm|title=Second World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific, Port Vila (Vanuatu) 24–27 August 1999|access-date=26 December 2019|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050619/http://whc.unesco.org/archive/vanuatu99.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{expand section|date=May 2015}}
Port Vila is one location of the [[University of the South Pacific]], an educational institution co-owned by twelve Pacific countries. The Vanuatu campus is the only law school in the university and teaches languages.

Upper secondary (sixth form/senior high school) institutions include:

* Port Vila International School
* Central Secondary School
* Epauto Adventist Senior Secondary School
* [[Lycee de Montmartre]]
* [[Lycée Français J. M. G. Le Clézio]] (French international school)
* [[Malapoa College]] (Formerly known as British Secondary School)
* Onesua Presbyterian College
* NTCU Port Vila Christian College

Junior secondary (seventh form to tenth form) institutions include:

* Port Vila International School
* Central Secondary School
* Malapoa College (Formerly known as British Secondary School)
* NTCU Port Vila Christian College
* Seaside Community Secondary School
* Sorovanga Self-Support Community School
* Suango Mele Junior Secondary School
* Ulei Junior Secondary School
* Vila North Secondary School

==Institutions==
===Municipality===
The municipality of Port Vila is divided into four wards and administered by a council of 14 members. The four wards are:
# Malapoa-Tagabe: Western and far northern neighborhoods
# Anabrou-Melcofe-Tassiriki: Northern and Eastern neighborhoods
# Centre: Nambawan and Seaside neighborhoods
# South: Nambatu, Nambatri, and Elluk neighborhoods

Malapoa-Tagabe and South are allotted three representatives each to the council, while Anabrou-Melcofe-Tassiriki and Centre have four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://be.convdocs.org/docs/index-87100.html|title=1. Composition of Port Vila Municipal Council|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234739/http://be.convdocs.org/docs/index-87100.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The municipality handles primary education, primary health care, regional planning, road maintenance and construction, trash collection, cemeteries, parks and open spaces, and tourism promotion.

There are also [[informal settlements]] such as Blacksands, which are effectively Vila suburbs but outside the municipality. Living conditions in some of these neighbourhoods are deplorable. Lack of service provision and insecure land tenure are major problems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/4461/LeslieEmilyM2013MPlan.pdf?sequence=3 |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201939/https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/4461/LeslieEmilyM2013MPlan.pdf?sequence=3 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Blacksands was [[Squatting in Vanuatu|squatted]] in the 1960s.<ref name="Report">{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=David |last2=Chung |first2=Margaret |title=Urban informal settlements in Vanuatu: Challenge for equitable development |url=https://mjcs.gov.vu/images/research_database/Vanuatu_Squatter_Settlement_Study_2002.pdf |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=Report prepared for Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Pacific Operation Centre |date=2020 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419144648/https://mjcs.gov.vu/images/research_database/Vanuatu_Squatter_Settlement_Study_2002.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most recent municipal council election was held in [[2022 Port Vila municipal election|2022]].

=== Constituency ===
{{update section|date=May 2015}}
Port Vila is one of the eighteen [[List of constituencies of Vanuatu|constituencies]] in Vanuatu and elects six [[Parliament of Vanuatu|Members of Parliament]]. Following the [[2016 Vanuatuan general election|2016 general election]], its representatives are:<ref>[https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-11th-legislatture "Members of the 11th Legislature of Parliament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129003545/http://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-11th-legislatture |date=29 November 2018 }}, Parliament of Vanuatu</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Member!!Party
|-
|Kenneth Natapei
| [[Vanua'aku Pati]]
|-
|Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau
|[[Union of Moderate Parties]]
|-
|Jean Pierre Nirua
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|-
|Kalo Seule
| [[Green Confederation]]
|-
|Ephraim Kalsakau
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|-
|Ulrich Sumptoh
|[[Union of Moderate Parties]]
|}

== Transportation ==
Port Vila is served by [[Bauerfield International Airport]], with service on many passenger and cargo airlines, including several foreign ones.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Oceania}}
Port Vila is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|PYF}} [[Bora-Bora (commune)|Bora-Bora]], French Polynesia<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister cities between Borabora and Port Vila|url=https://dailypost.vu/news/sister-cities-between-borabora-and-port-vila/article_bd631540-db0e-5aef-a4c0-da869db080ba.html|work=Daily Post|date=2019-05-11|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720062318/https://dailypost.vu/news/sister-cities-between-borabora-and-port-vila/article_bd631540-db0e-5aef-a4c0-da869db080ba.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NCL|FLNKS}} [[Dumbéa]], New Caledonia<ref name=pireport>{{cite web|title=New Caledonia Enhances Ties With Vanuatu Capital City|url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/13/new-caledonia-enhances-ties-vanuatu-capital-city|website=pireport.org|publisher=Pacific Islands Report|date=2017-03-13|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720063816/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/13/new-caledonia-enhances-ties-vanuatu-capital-city|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Foshan]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=Foshan doctors here to treat children|url=https://www.sista.com.vu/foshan-doctors-here-to-treat-children/|website=sista.com.vu|publisher=Sista|date=2020-01-10|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720073942/https://www.sista.com.vu/foshan-doctors-here-to-treat-children/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NCL|FLNKS}} [[Lifou]], New Caledonia<ref name=pireport/>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor Sumptoh to renew 22-year-old relations with Shanghai|url=https://dailypost.vu/news/mayor-sumptoh-to-renew-22-year-old-relations-with-shanghai/article_4bb41f18-f633-5d98-a07e-4bf9178b734d.html|work=Daily Post|date=2016-10-15|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720060647/https://dailypost.vu/news/mayor-sumptoh-to-renew-22-year-old-relations-with-shanghai/article_4bb41f18-f633-5d98-a07e-4bf9178b734d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Yinchuan]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=银川市友好城市及交流合作情况|url=http://www.yinchuan.gov.cn/sshc/ycgk/yhcs/|website=yinchuan.gov.cn|publisher=Yinchuan|language=zh|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=16 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616160320/http://www.yinchuan.gov.cn/sshc/ycgk/yhcs/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Port Vila| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Oceania]]
[[Category:Populated places in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Port cities in Oceania|Vila]]
[[Category:Squatting in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1880s]]