1995 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1995 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 6.5 sq km land area: 6.5 sq km comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical
Coastline
19.3 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: occasional typhoons international agreements: NA
International disputes
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
none
Note
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Terrain
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less than 4 meters
People and Society
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
302 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Capital
none; administered from Washington, DC
Digraph
WQ
Flag
the US flag is used
Independence
none (territory of the US)
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island
Type
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1 October 1994
Economy
Electricity
supplied by US military
Overview
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Communications
Note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA radios: NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite
Telephone system
NA telephones; satellite communications; 1 Autovon circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) local: NA intercity: NA international: NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite
Television
broadcast stations: NA televisions: NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite
Transportation
Airports
total: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
Merchant marine
none
Note
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile launches
Ports
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Railroads
0 km
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the US ________________________________________________________________________ WALLIS AND FUTUNA (overseas territory of France)