2013 Edition

Background

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Area

26 sq km 26 sq km 0 sq km

total

26 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Coastline

24 km

Elevation extremes

Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location 5 m

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Geography - note

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0% 60% 40% (2011)

arable land

0%

other

40% (2011)

permanent crops

60%

Location

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Age structure

29.8% (male 1,637/female 1,555) 20.9% (male 1,197/female 1,044) 35.8% (male 1,846/female 1,985) 8.1% (male 352/female 514) 5.3% (male 238/female 330) (2013 est.)

0-14 years

29.8% (male 1,637/female 1,555)

15-24 years

20.9% (male 1,197/female 1,044)

25-54 years

35.8% (male 1,846/female 1,985)

55-64 years

8.1% (male 352/female 514)

65 years and over

5.3% (male 238/female 330) (2013 est.)

Birth rate

23.56 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.6% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30.5% (2007)

Death rate

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population urban: 2% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2010 est.)

rural

3% of population

total

2% of population (2010 est.)

urban

2% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Health expenditures

17.3% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

5.6 beds/1,000 population (2001)

Infant mortality rate

32.61 deaths/1,000 live births 35.45 deaths/1,000 live births 29.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

female

29.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total

32.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Life expectancy at birth

65.47 years 63.36 years 67.67 years (2013 est.)

female

67.67 years (2013 est.)

total population

65.47 years

Literacy

NA

Median age

24.6 years 23.4 years 26.3 years (2013 est.)

female

26.3 years (2013 est.)

male

23.4 years

total

24.6 years

Nationality

Tuvaluan(s) Tuvaluan

adjective

Tuvaluan

noun

Tuvaluan(s)

Net migration rate

-6.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Physicians density

1.09 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

10,698 (July 2013 est.)

Population growth rate

0.77% (2013 est.)

Religions

Protestant 98.4% (Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%), Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 88% of population rural: 81% of population total: 85% of population urban: 12% of population rural: 19% of population total: 15% of population (2010 est.)

rural

19% of population

total

15% of population (2010 est.)

urban

12% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

11 years 10 years 11 years (2001)

female

11 years (2001)

male

10 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.17 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female 0.71 male(s)/female 0.73 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.17 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.91 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.71 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.73 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.06 children born/woman (2013 est.)

Urbanization

50% of total population (2010) 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

50% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu

Capital

Funafuti 8 31 S, 179 13 E UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

geographic coordinates

8 31 S, 179 13 E

name

Funafuti

time difference

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

Constitution

previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986; amended 2007, 2010 (2010)

Country name

none Tuvalu none Tuvalu Ellice Islands "Tuvalu" means "group of eight" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Tuvalu

former

Ellice Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji, currently Ambassador Frankie A. REED, is accredited to Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Aunese Makoi SIMATI (since 11 January 2013) Note - Tuvalu does not have an embassy in Washington, D.C.; UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 490-0534 [1] (212) 937-0692

chancery

Note - Tuvalu does not have an embassy in Washington, D.C.; UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Aunese Makoi SIMATI (since 11 January 2013)

FAX

[1] (212) 937-0692

telephone

[1] (212) 490-0534

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since May 2010) Prime Minister Enele SOPOAGA (since 5 August 2013) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of parliament following parliamentary elections Willie TELAVI removed as prime minister by the governor-general on 1 August 2013; Enele SOPOAGA elected 4 August 2013 in a 8 to 5 vote by the House of Assembly

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since May 2010)

election results

Willie TELAVI removed as prime minister by the governor-general on 1 August 2013; Enele SOPOAGA elected 4 August 2013 in a 8 to 5 vote by the House of Assembly

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of parliament following parliamentary elections

head of government

Prime Minister Enele SOPOAGA (since 5 August 2013)

Flag description

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 October 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal is the Fiji Court of Appeal on Fiji Island (consists of the chief justice who visits twice a year); High Court, located on Fiji, consists of the chief justice of Fiji who presides over its sessions chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court are appointed by the president of Fiji, upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission, after consulting with the Cabinet Minister and the committee of the House of Representatives responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70; puisine judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years with mandatory retirement at age 65 magistrates' courts; island courts; lands courts

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal is the Fiji Court of Appeal on Fiji Island (consists of the chief justice who visits twice a year); High Court, located on Fiji, consists of the chief justice of Fiji who presides over its sessions

judge selection and term of office

chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court are appointed by the president of Fiji, upon the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission, after consulting with the Cabinet Minister and the committee of the House of Representatives responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70; puisine judges appointed for not less than 4 years nor more than 7 years with mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts

magistrates' courts; island courts; lands courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 16 September 2010 (next to be held in 2014) percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15; 10 members reelected

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15; 10 members reelected

elections

last held on 16 September 2010 (next to be held in 2014)

National anthem

"Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty) Afaese MANOA adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

lyrics/music

Afaese MANOA

name

"Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Political parties and leaders

there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts; fish

Budget

$21.54 million $23.05 million (2006)

expenditures

$23.05 million (2006)

revenues

$21.54 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.8% of GDP (2006)

Current account balance

$-7.7 million (2010 est.) $-11.68 million (2003)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports and is almost entirely dependent upon imported food and fuel. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average, visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and public sector workers make up most of those employed. About 15% of the adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroad, and remittances are a vital source of income contributing around $2 million in 2007. Substantial income is received annually from the Tuvalu Trust Fund (TTF) an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative withdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to an estimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TTF contributed nearly $9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The US Government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensure financial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name with revenue of more than $2 million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes from the sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseas investments. Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of the country to climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.

Exchange rates

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.97 (2011) 1.67 (2011 est.) 1.67 (2010) 1.28 (2009) 1.21 (2008)

Exports

$600,000 (2010 est.) $1 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, fish

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

16.6% 27.2% 56.2% (2002)

agriculture

16.6%

industry

27.2%

services

56.2% (2002)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,400 (2012 est.) $3,500 (2011 est.) $3,200 (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.2% (2012 est.) 8.5% (2011 est.) -2.7% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$39.46 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$39 million (2012 est.) $38.66 million (2011 est.) $35.27 million (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$16.5 million (2010 est.) $12.91 million (2005)

Imports - commodities

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, tourism, copra

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

note

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Taxes and other revenues

54.6% of GDP (2006)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from international broadcasters (2009)

Internet country code

.tv

Internet hosts

145,158 (2012)

Internet users

4,200 (2008)

Telephone system

serves particular needs for internal communications radiotelephone communications between islands country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite (2007)

domestic

radiotelephone communications between islands

general assessment

serves particular needs for internal communications

international

country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,450 (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,800 (2012)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 4, cargo 24, chemical tanker 15, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1 33 (China 4, Indonesia 1, Maldives 1, Singapore 19, South Korea 1, Turkey 1, Vietnam 6) (2010)

foreign-owned

33 (China 4, Indonesia 1, Maldives 1, Singapore 19, South Korea 1, Turkey 1, Vietnam 6) (2010)

total

58

Ports and terminals

Funafuti

Roadways

8 km 8 km (2011)

total

8 km

Manpower fit for military service

2,021 2,026 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,026 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,021

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

111 (2010 est.)

female

111 (2010 est.)

male

119

Military branches

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

none