1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 274 km2 land area: 274 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)
Coastline
129 km
Environment
both island groups have fringing reefs
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75%
Location
in the South Pacific Ocean, 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
negligible
Terrain
volcanic origin; low hills
People and Society
Birth rate
26.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
5.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Polynesian
Infant mortality rate
27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
Languages
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.2 years male: 70.54 years female: 71.9 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
all ages can read and write (1969) total population: 50% male: 50% female: 51%
Nationality
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Net migration rate
-9.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
14,175 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
1.15% (1993 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic
Total fertility rate
3.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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)
Digraph
WF
Diplomatic representation in US
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 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1
French Senate
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); 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 legal system
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)
Member of
FZ, SPC
Names
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna
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
18 years of age; universal
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
US diplomatic representation
none (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
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 - 99.65 (January 1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988); 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
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%
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)
National product per capita
$1,500 (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate
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
total: 2 useable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
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