Torba (or TorBa) is the northernmost and least populous province of Vanuatu.

It consists of the Banks Islands and the Torres Islands. It has an area of . Its capital is Sola on Vanua Lava.

The province's name is derived from the initial letters of TORres and BAnks.

Administrative divisions

Torba Province are subdivided into nine area councils, which are further subdivided into populated places (i.e.: villages, communities, etc.). These area councils are, in geographical order (from NW to SE):

  • Torres Area Council
  • Ureparapara Area Council
  • Motalava Area Council
  • East Vanualava Area Council
  • West Vanualava Area Council
  • Mota Area Council
  • East Gaua Area Council
  • West Gaua Area Council
  • Merelava-Merig Area Council

Islands

These are the main islands of Torba Province, excluding smaller and uninhabited islets.

;Banks Islands

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Name !! Population !! Area in km<sup>2</sup>

|-

| Gaua || 2,491 || 342

|-

| Kwakéa || 26 || 1.2

|-

| Merelava || 647 || 18

|-

| Merig || 12 || 0.5

|-

| Mota || 683 || 9.5

|-

| Motalava || 1,451 || 24

|-

| Ra || 189 || 0.5

|-

| Ureparapara || 437 || 39

|-

| Vanua Lava || 2,597 || 314

|}

;Torres Islands

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Name !! Population !! Area in km<sup>2</sup>

|-

| Hiw || 269 || 51

|-

| Linua || 0 || 2.5

|-

| Lo || 210 || 11.9

|-

| Metoma || 13 || 3

|-

| Tegua || 58 || 30.8

|-

| Toga || 276 || 18.8

|}

Population

thumb|right|450px|Detailed map of Torba province (Torres-Banks)

The province had a population of 9,359 in 2009, 10,161 in 2016, and 11,002 in 2020. From north to south, they are: Hiw, Lo-Toga, Lehali, Löyöp, Volow, Mwotlap, Lemerig, Vera'a, Vurës, Mwesen, Mota, Nume, Dorig, Koro, Olrat, Lakon, and Mwerlap. With an average of 550 speakers per language, Torba is one of the most linguistically dense areas of Vanuatu, which is itself the country with the highest density of languages per capita in the world.

References

Bibliography

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