Vanuatu is divided into 6 provinces, which constitute the country's primary administrative division. These provinces serve as the intermediate governance layer between the national government and local councils, responsible for coordinating regional development, infrastructure projects, and public services within their jurisdictions. The provincial system facilitates decentralized administration across Vanuatu's dispersed archipelago, allowing for more localized decision-making on matters such as education, healthcare, and rural development. Each province is governed by a provincial council that works alongside traditional chiefs and community leaders to address regional priorities while implementing national policies. This administrative structure helps bridge the geographic challenges of governing an island nation spread across approximately 1,300 kilometers of the South Pacific Ocean.