2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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
Area
total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
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
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 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
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005)
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
volcanic origin; low hills
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: (male 2,215/female 1,999) 15-64 years: (male 4,982/female 4,996) 65 years and over: (male 465/female 580)
Birth rate
NA (2008 est.)
Death rate
NA (2008 est.)
Ethnic groups
Polynesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)
Nationality
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Net migration rate
NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.)
Population
15,237 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
NA (2008 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Total fertility rate
NA (2008 est.)
Government
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
Capital
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
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
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers 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
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of France)
International organization participation
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU
Judicial branch
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; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Legal system
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7 note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Budget
revenues: $29,730 expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Currency (code)
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code
XPF
Debt - external
$3.67 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient
assistance from France, $NA
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%
Exchange rates
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Exports
$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)
Fiscal year
calendar year
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.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 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% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (2005)
Labor force
3,104 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Public debt
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
15.2% (2003)
Communications
Internet country code
.wf
Internet hosts
1 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
900 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681
Telephones - main lines in use
1,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
2 (2000)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 8 by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Leava, Mata-Utu
Military and Security
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 172 female: 170 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008