2000 Edition

Background

Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

Area

land

274 sq km

note

includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

total

274 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Coastline

129 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Singavi 765 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources

Geographic coordinates

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Geography - note

both island groups have fringing reefs

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

5%

forests and woodland

0%

other

75% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

20%

permanent pastures

0%

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, 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 hazards

NA

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA years

male

NA years

total population

NA years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

50% (1969 est.)

male

50%

total population

50%

Nationality

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

15,283 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

NA%

Religions

Roman Catholic 100%

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo

Capital

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

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

Data code

WF

Dependency status

overseas territory of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

chief of state

President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Christian DORS (since NA)

elections

French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

head of government

President of the Territorial Assembly Soane UHILA (since NA)

note

there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Flag description

a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

International organization participation

FZ, SPC

Judicial branch

none; justice generally administered under French law by the high 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 or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 14, other 6

elections

last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)

note

Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by NA March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1

Political parties and leaders

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) ; Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG ; Rally for the Republic or RPR ; Taumu'a Lelei ; Union Populaire Locale or UPL ; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Budget

expenditures

$17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$20 million

Currency

1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

assistance from France

Economy - 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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA%

hydro

NA%

nuclear

NA%

other

NA%

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Exports

$370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, breadfruit, yams, taro roots, handicrafts

Exports - partners

NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1995 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing

Imports - partners

France, Australia, New Zealand

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

NA

Telephones - main lines in use

1,125 (1994)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

NA

Airports

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

16 km (all on Ile Uvea)

total

120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

unpaved

104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Merchant marine

ships by type

passenger 2, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 92,060 GRT/45,881 DWT

Ports and harbors

Leava, Mata-Utu

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes - international

none

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