1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France)

Affiliation

(overseas territory of France)

Agriculture

dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats

Airports

total: 2 usable: 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

Area

total area: 274 sq km land area: 274 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Birth rate

25.74 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.7 million expenditures: $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983 est.)

Capital

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)

Coastline

129 km

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Currency

1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Death rate

5.26 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

WF

Diplomatic representation in US

none (overseas territory of France)

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $118 million

Electricity

capacity: 1,200 kW production: 1 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 107.63 (January 1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Executive branch

chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) head of government: High Administrator Philippe LEGRIX (since NA); President of the Territorial Assembly Soane Noni UHILA (since NA March 1992) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Exports

negligible commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

NA

Flag

the flag of France is used

French National Assembly

elections 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

elections 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

Highways

total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20km) paved: 16 km (on Il Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Imports

$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Infant mortality rate

26.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Inland waterways

none

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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

Labor force

NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75%

Languages

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Legal system

French legal system

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.72 years male: 71.08 years female: 72.4 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

all ages can read and write (1969) total population: 50% male: 50% female: 51%

Location

Oceania, Polynesia 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

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

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)

National product per capita

$1,500 (1991 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Nationality

noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Natural resources

negligible

Net migration rate

-9.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

both island groups have fringing reefs

defense is the responsibility of France

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.

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)

Population

14,338 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.13% (1994 est.)

Ports

Mata-Utu, Leava

Religions

Roman Catholic

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunications

225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)

elections 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

Total fertility rate

3.23 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

overseas territory of France

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (overseas territory of France)