2012 Edition

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, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.

Area

142 sq km 142 sq km 0 sq km includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

total

142 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

Pacific Ocean 0 m Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m

highest point

Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 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 freshwater 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

7.14% 35.71% 57.15% (2005)

arable land

7.14%

other

57.15% (2005)

permanent crops

35.71%

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Age structure

24.6% (male 1,982/ female 1,813) 67.2% (male 5,228/ female 5,154) 8.3% (male 599/ female 677) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

24.6% (male 1,982/ female 1,813)

15-64 years

67.2% (male 5,228/ female 5,154)

65 years and over

8.3% (male 599/ female 677) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

13.91 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

4.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

4.61 deaths/1,000 live births 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

4.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

79.12 years 76.14 years 82.26 years (2012 est.)

female

82.26 years (2012 est.)

total population

79.12 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 50% 50% 50% (1969 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

50% (1969 est.)

male

50%

total population

50%

Median age

29 years 28 years 30.2 years (2012 est.)

female

30.2 years (2012 est.)

male

28 years

total

29 years

Nationality

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

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

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

Net migration rate

-5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2012 est.)

Population

15,453 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.356% (2012 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Sanitation facility access

rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population

rural

4% of population

total

4% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.09 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.09 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

0% of total population (2008) 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2008)

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

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) 13 57 S, 171 56 W UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands Wallis and Futuna Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna Wallis et Futuna

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

President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010) President of the Territorial Assembly Vetelino NAU (since 4 April 2012) Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers 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 elected by the members of the assembly

cabinet

Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

chief of state

President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)

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 elected by the members of the assembly

head of government

President of the Territorial Assembly Vetelino NAU (since 4 April 2012)

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 design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France used for official occasions

Government type

parliamentary representive democratic French overseas collectivity

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

International organization participation

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

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

French civil law

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 22 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2017) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4, UMP 4, centrists, 3, other 9 Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - elections last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4, UMP 4, centrists, 3, other 9

elections

last held on 22 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2017)

National anthem

as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

note

as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

National symbol(s)

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$29,730 $31,330 (2004 est.)

expenditures

$31,330 (2004 est.)

revenues

$29,730

Debt - external

$3.67 million (2004)

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.

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 90.01 (2010 est.) 87.59 (2007)

Exports

$47,450 (2004)

Exports - commodities

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

NA% NA% NA%

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

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$61.17 million (2004)

Imports - commodities

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2005)

Labor force

3,104 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

80% 4% 16% (2001 est.)

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)

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)

Internet country code

.wf

Internet hosts

2,760 (2012)

Internet users

1,300 (2009)

Telephone system

NA NA country code - 681

domestic

NA

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 681

Airports

2 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

total

2

Ports and terminals

Leava, Mata-Utu

Manpower fit for military service

3,376 3,314 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

3,314 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,376

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

139 (2010 est.)

female

139 (2010 est.)

male

168

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes - international

none