Vanuatu has been divided into six provinces since 1994. The names in English of all provinces are derived from the initial letters of their constituent islands:
| Province | Main islands | Land Area (km2) | Population Census 2016 [1] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lakatoro | Ambrym, Malakula, Paama | 2,779 | 40,928 | ||
| 2 | Saratamata | Pentecost Island, Ambae, Maéwo | 1,198 | 32,543 | ||
| 3 | Luganville | Santo, Malo | 4,248 | 54,184 | ||
| 4 | Port Vila | Efate, Shepherd Islands, Epi | 1,455 | 97,602 | ||
| 5 | Isangel | Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango, Anatom | 1,628 | 37,050 | ||
| 6 | Sola | Banks and Torres Islands | 882 | 10,161 | ||
 Vanuatu | Port Vila | 12,190 | 272,459 |
The provinces are in turn divided into municipalities headed by a council and a mayor elected from among the members of the council.
In the Tafea Province for example are the following municipalities (council areas):[2]
The islands of Aniwa, Futuna and Aneityum appear to consist of one municipality each.
From 1985 to 1994 it was divided into eleven island regions:
| Island Region | Capital | part of current Province | Land Area (km2) | Population Census 1999 or estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambae &Maéwo | Longana | Penama | 708 | 14,646 | |
| Ambrym | Eas | Malampa | 678 | 7,787 | |
| Banks &Torres | Sola | Torba | 882 | 7,757 | |
| Éfaté | Port Vila | Shefa | 915 | 50,000 | |
| Epi | Ringdove | Shefa | 451 | 3,000 | |
| Malakula | Lakatoro | Malampa | 2,043 | 23,361 | |
| Paama | Liro | Malampa | 58 | 1,557 | |
| Pentecost | Loltong | Penama | 490 | 12,000 | |
| Santo &Malo | Luganville | Sanma | 4,248 | 36,084 | |
| Shepherd Islands | Morua | Shefa | 89 | 1,439 | |
| Taféa | Isangel | Tafea | 1,628 | 29,047 | |
| New Hebrides | Port Vila | 12,189 | 186,678 |
During the Condominium era, specifically from 1968 to 1984 the group was divided into four administrative districts:
| District | Capital | Main Islands | Current Provinces | Land Area (km2) | Population Census 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern District (Tanna) | Lénakel | Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango, Anatom | Tafea | 1,628 | 29,047 | |
| Central District 1 (Efaté) | Port Vila | Efate, Epi, Shepherd Islands | Shefa | 1,455 | 54,439 | |
| Central District 2 (Malékoula) | Lamap | Ambrym, Malakula, Paama, Pentecôte | Malampa, Penama (part) | 3,269 | 44,705 | |
| Northern District (Santo) | Luganville | Santo, Malo, Banks and Torres Islands, Aoba, Maewo | Sanma, Torba, Penama (part) | 5,838 | 58,487 | |
| Vanuatu | Port Vila | 12,189 | 186,678 |
In the 1950s, districts appeared to denote the finest administrative level, finer than the current municipalities or council areas, but above the village level. The island of Tanna was subdivided into 12 such districts, in 1952:[3]