1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Agriculture
limited; coconut palms, copra
Aid
economic commitments — $4.2 million (1983); Western (non-US) countries, ODA (1970-79), $22 million
Airfields
1 usable with runways 1,2202,439 m
Area
Nanurtea 1 50 km Niutao Nanumanya Hui , Vailupu Nukuleiaug FUNAFUTI' «-f» Funafuti South Pacific Ocean Nukulaelae S*f regional map X
Branches
executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet; unicameral legislature — 12member House of Parliament judicial — High Court, 8 island courts with limited jurisdication
Budget
(1983 est.) revenues, $2.59 million; expenditures, $3.6 million
Capital
Funafuti
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Coastline
about 24 km People
Elections
last general election September 1985, next scheduled for September 1989
Electric power
2,600 kW capacity (1985); 3 million kWh produced (1985), 375 kWh per capita
Ethnic divisions
96% Polynesian
Exports
copra— $26,789 (1981)
GNP
$4 million (1984), $450 per capita
Government leaders
Dr. Tomasi PUAPUA, Prime Minister (since September 1981); Sir Fiatau Penitala TEO, Governor General (since October 1978)
Highways
8 km gravel
Imports
$2.8 million (1981); food and mineral fuels
Infant mortality rate
42/1,000(1979)
Inland waterways
none
Language
Tuvaluan, English
Life expectancy
men 57, women 60
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm (200 nm exclusive economic zone)
Literacy
less than 50% Government
Major industry
copra
Major trade partners
UK, Australia
Member of
ESCAP (associate member), GATT (de facto), SPF, SPC, UPU Economy
Monetary conversion rate
1.44 Australian dollars=US$l (6 February 1986) Communications
Nationality
noun — Tuvaluans(s); adjective— Tuvaluan
NOTE
On 1 October 1975, by Constitutional Order, the Ellice Islands were formally separated from the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands, thus forming the colony of Tuvalu. The remaining islands in the former Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony are now named Kiribati. Tuvalu includes the islands of Nanumanga, Nanumea, Nui, Niutao, Vaitupu, and the four islands of the Tuvalu group formerly claimed by the United States — Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita Land 26 km2; less than one-half the size of Manhattan; low-lying atolls composed of coral reefs Water
Official name
Tuvalu
Political parties
none
Political subdivisions
8 island councils on the permanently inhabited islands
Population
8,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 1.7%
Ports
2 minor (Funafuti, Nukufetau)
Railroads
none
Religion
Christian, predominantly Protestant
Telecommunications
1 AM station; about 300 radio telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 4,000 radio sets
Type
independent state with special "membership" in the Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as head of state