2015 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. The agreement was subsequently renegotiated but details were not disclosed.

Area

land

26 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

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; 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 increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; 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

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

arable land 0%; permanent crops 60%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

60%

forest

33.3%

other

6.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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, coconut (copra)

Terrain

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Age structure

0-14 years

29.4% (male 1,639/female 1,557)

15-24 years

20.27% (male 1,157/female 1,046)

25-54 years

36.35% (male 1,946/female 2,005)

55-64 years

8.41% (male 373/female 541)

65 years and over

5.57% (male 247/female 358) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

23.74 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.6% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30.5% (2007)

Death rate

8.74 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.3% of population

rural: 97% of population

total: 97.7% of population

urban: 1.7% of population

rural: 3% of population

total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Health expenditures

19.7% of GDP (2013)

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

female

28.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

33.46 deaths/1,000 live births

total

30.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.41 years (2015 est.)

male

64.01 years

total population

66.16 years

Major urban areas - population

FUNAFUTI (capital) 6,000 (2014)

Median age

female

26.6 years (2015 est.)

male

24.1 years

total

25.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Tuvaluan

noun

Tuvaluan(s)

Net migration rate

-6.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

39.6% (2014)

Physicians density

1.09 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

10,869 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.82% (2015 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: 86.3% of population

rural: 80.2% of population

total: 83.3% of population

urban: 13.7% of population

rural: 19.8% of population

total: 16.7% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.69 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

59.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

8 31 S, 179 13 E

name

Funafuti; note - administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

na

Constitution

previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986; amended 2007, 2010, 2013 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Tuvalu

former

Ellice Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Tuvalu

note

"Tuvalu" means "group of eight" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

cabinet

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010)

election results

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

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly 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, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

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

description

unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (15 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 15; 12 members reelected

elections

last held on 31 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Afaese MANOA

name

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

note

adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

National symbol(s)

maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow

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

expenditures

$32.46 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$42.68 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

26.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.6% (2013 est.)

10.6% (2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$10 million (2014 est.)

-$9 million (2013 est.)

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. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly of food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, which pose significant challenges to development. The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are a significant source of government revenue. In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP. Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, has grown to $141 million in 2013 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. While remittances are another substantial source of income, the value of remittances has declined since the global financial crisis of 2008. Growing income inequality is one of many concerns for the nation.

Exchange rates

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.1094 (2013)

1.67 (2013 est.)

1.2822 (2009 est.)

Exports

$600,000 (2010 est.)

$1 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, fish

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

24.5%

industry

5.6%

services

70% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300 (2014 est.)

$3,200 (2013 est.)

$3,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2014 est.)

1.3% (2013 est.)

0.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$35 million (2014 est.)

$34.23 million (2013 est.)

$33.8 million (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$136.5 million (2013 est.)

$238.6 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Industrial production growth rate

-26.1% (2012 est.)

Industries

fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2014 est.)

2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

note

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$0 (2014)

Population below poverty line

26.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt

41.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

43.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

NA (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2014)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5,100 kW (2011)

Electricity - production

11.8 million kWh (2011)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

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 users

percent of population

38.1% (2014 est.)

total

4,100

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1,500

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2014 est.)

total

3,800

Television broadcast stations

0 (2004)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 24, chemical tanker 15, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned

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

total

58

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Funafuti

Roadways

paved

8 km (2011)

total

8 km

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,026 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,021

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

111 (2010 est.)

male

119

Military branches

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)

Disputes - international

none