Wallis and Futuna

Around 800 B.C., the first settlers arrived on the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are a natural midpoint between Fiji and Samoa. Around A.D. 1500, Tongans invaded Wallis, and a chiefdom system resembling Tonga’s formal hierarchy developed on the island. Tongans attempted to settle Futuna but were repeatedly rebuffed. Samoans settled Futuna in the 1600s, and a slightly less centralized chiefdom system formed. Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to see the islands in 1616, followed intermittently by other Europeans, including British explorer Samuel WALLIS in 1767. French Catholic missionaries were the first Europeans to permanently settle Wallis and Futuna in 1837, and they converted most of the population of both islands by 1846. The missionaries and newly converted King LAVELUA of Uvea on Wallis asked France for a protectorate in 1842 following a local rebellion. France agreed, although the protectorate status would not be ratified until 1887. In 1888, King MUSULAMU of Alo and King TAMOLE of Sigave, both on Futuna, signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate; the Wallis and Futuna protectorate was integrated into the territory of New Caledonia the same year. France renegotiated the terms of the protectorate with the territory’s three kings in 1910, expanding French authority.Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, until the arrival of Free French and US troops in 1942. In 1959, inhabitants of the islands voted to separate from New Caledonia, becoming a French overseas territory in 1961. Despite the split, a significant Wallisian and Futunan community still lives in New Caledonia. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity. The islands joined the Pacific Islands Forum as an associate member in 2018, two years after France’s other Pacific territories became full members of the organization.

land

142 sq km

note

note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

total

142 sq km

water

0 sq km

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

129 km

highest point

Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

13 18 S, 176 12 W

both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes

0.6 sq km (2020)

total

0 km

agricultural land

42.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

41.9% (2018 est.)

other

15.3% (2018 est.)

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Oceania

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

cyclones; tsunamis

NEGL

volcanic origin; low hills

0-14 years

19.8% (male 1,643/female 1,511)

15-64 years

67.5% (male 5,535/female 5,247)

65 years and over

12.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,023/female 1,005)

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

NA

56% (2023)

6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

20.4

potential support ratio

4.9 (2021)

total dependency ratio

57

youth dependency ratio

36.6

improved: rural

rural: 99.1% of population

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

NA

Polynesian

0.83 (2024 est.)

female

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 est.)

female

84.2 years

male

78.2 years

total population

81.1 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)

female

37.3 years

male

35.5 years

total

36.3 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders

-3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

female

7,763 (2024 est.)

male

8,201

total

15,964

0.22% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

improved: rural

rural: 92.9% of population

improved: total

total: 92.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: 7.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 7.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.02 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.71 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2023)

3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea

geographic coordinates

13 57 S, 171 56 W

name

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see France

amendments

French constitution amendment procedures apply

history

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

conventional long form

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands

conventional short form

Wallis and Futuna

etymology

Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island

former

Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands

local long form

Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna

local short form

Wallis et Futuna

overseas collectivity of France

none (overseas collectivity of France)

none (overseas territory of France)

cabinet

Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

chief of state

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Blaise GOURTAY (since 1 August 2023)

elections/appointments

French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members

head of government

President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022)

note

note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers

unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant

note

note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

none (overseas collectivity of France)

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

highest court(s)

Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia)

judge selection and term of office

NA

subordinate courts

courts of first instance; labor court; note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

French civil law

description

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats - Wallis 13, Futuna 7; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

Territorial Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 2 members are elected from the list Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua and 2 members are elected from list Mauli fetokoniaki, 1 seat each from 16 other lists; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NAFrench Senate representative - LR 1French National Assembly representative - independent 1

elections

Territorial Assembly - last held on 20 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2027)French Senate - last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2026)French National Assembly - last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held in June 2027)

note

note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term

note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white

Left Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR Socialist Party or PSTaumu'a Lelei Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

18 years of age; universal

coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

expenditures

$34.18 million (2015 est.)

revenues

$32.54 million (2015 est.)

lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy; heavily reliant on French subsidies; licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea; major remittances from New Caledonia; aging workforce; import-dependent; deforestation-fueled fragility

Currency

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

110.347 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

104.711 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

100.88 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

113.474 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

110.347 (2023 est.)

integrated circuits, jewelry, cars, aircraft parts, polyacetals (2019)

France 48%, Singapore 12%, US 10%, Guatemala 9%, UK 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

refined petroleum, beef products, poultry meats, engine parts, packaged medicines (2019)

Fiji 38%, France 31%, NZ 8%, Iceland 6%, Australia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

0.9% (2015)

16.7% (of GDP) (2015 est.)

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019)

.wf

percent of population

45.8% (2021 est.)

total

5,496 (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity 26 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

2G widespread; bandwidth is limited; mobile subscriber numbers are higher than fixed-line and better suited for islands; good mobile coverage in the capital cities and also reasonable coverage across more remote atolls; recent international interest in infrastructure development; increase in demand for mobile broadband as mobile services serve as primary source for Internet access; broadband satellite launched in 2019 to improve costs and capability (2020)

international

country code - 681; landing point for the Tui-Samoa submarine cable network connecting Wallis & Futuna, Samoa and Fiji (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

3,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2019)

total subscriptions

0 (2018)

2 (2024)

by type

general cargo 1

total

1 (2023)

key ports

Mata-Utu

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

defense is the responsibility of France

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural productivity

agricultural land

42.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

41.9% (2018 est.)

other

15.3% (2018 est.)

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2023)