1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)
Coastline
129 km
Comparative area
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Disputes
none
Environment
both island groups have fringing reefs
Exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Land area
274 km2; includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 5%; permanent crops 20%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 75%
Natural resources
negligible
Note
located 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Terrain
volcanic origin; low hills
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
274 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
27 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
almost entirely Polynesian
Infant mortality rate
29 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Labor force
NA
Languages
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Life expectancy at birth
70 years male, 71 years female (1992)
Literacy
50% (male 50%, female 51%) at all ages can read and write (1969)
Nationality
noun - Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders; adjective - Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Net migration rate
8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
NA
Population
17,095 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)
Religions
largely Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
3.6 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of France)
Capital
Mata Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Chief of State
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Constitution
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Diplomatic representation
as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the US by France
Executive branch
French president, chief administrator; note - there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Flag
the flag of France is used
French National Assembly
last held 12 June 1988 (next to be held by NA September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1
French Senate
last held NA September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1
Head of Government
Chief Administrator Robert POMMIES (since 26 September 1990)
Independence
none (overseas territory of France)
Judicial branch
none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata Utu
Legal system
French
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)
Long-form name
Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
Member of
FZ, SPC
National holiday
Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders
Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)
Suffrage
universal adult at age 18
Territorial Assembly
last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4
Type
overseas territory of France
Economy
Agriculture
dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
Budget
revenues $2.7 million; expenditures $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983)
Currency
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural - francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $118 million
Electricity
1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 102.53 (March 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Exports
negligible commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
NA
GDP
exchange rate conversion - $25 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)
Imports
$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Overview
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Highways
100 km on Ile Uvea, 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface on Ile Futuna
Inland waterways
none
Ports
Mata-Utu, Leava
Telecommunications
225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of France