2007 Edition

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 at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

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

Background

The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but 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. Geography Wallis and Futuna

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

expenditures

$31,330 (2004)

revenues

$29,730

Capital

geographic coordinates

13 57 S, 171 56 W

name

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Constitution

4 October 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

Currency (code)

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code

XPF

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Debt - external

$3.67 million (2004)

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)

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

assistance from France

Economy - overview

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings 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

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0%

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

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.01 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)

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 Richard DIDIER (since 19 July 2006)

elections

French president elected by popular vote for a five-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 Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001)

note

there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Exports

$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners

Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Wallis and Futuna

Flag description

unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag Economy Wallis and Futuna

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

GDP (official exchange rate)

NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60 million (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Geography - note

both island groups have fringing reefs People Wallis and Futuna

Government type

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities

chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods

Imports - partners

France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2004)

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2005)

International organization participation

SPC, UPU

Internet country code

.wf

Internet hosts

1 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

900 (2002) Transportation Wallis and Futuna

Irrigated land

NA

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

Labor force

3,104 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

80%

industry

4%

services

16% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

7.14%

other

57.15% (2005)

permanent crops

35.71%

Languages

Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

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 and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7

elections

last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held March 2007)

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 September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held by in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1

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.) Government Wallis and Futuna

male

50%

total population

50%

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

Merchant marine

by type

chemical tanker 1, passenger 7

foreign-owned

8 (France 5, French Polynesia 2, US 1) (2006)

total

8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 110,428 GRT/56,830 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France Transnational Issues Wallis and Futuna

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Nationality

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

NEGL

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2006 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

16,025 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

NA

Ports and terminals

Leava, Mata-Utu Military Wallis and Futuna

Public debt

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios

NA

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 681

Telephones - main lines in use

1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

2 (2000)

Televisions

NA

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Unemployment rate

15.2% (2003)