2015 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

land

142 sq km

note

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 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

Coastline

129 km

Elevation extremes

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

arable land 7.1%; permanent crops 35.7%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

42.8%

forest

41.9%

other

15.3% (2011 est.)

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

22.71% (male 1,850/female 1,695)

15-24 years

17.41% (male 1,426/female 1,292)

25-54 years

41.11% (male 3,210/female 3,208)

55-64 years

9.45% (male 731/female 744)

65 years and over

9.33% (male 697/female 760) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.45 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

5.06 deaths/1,000 population (2015 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

female

4.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

4.66 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.43 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

female

82.7 years (2015 est.)

male

76.58 years

total population

79.57 years

Major urban areas - population

MATA-UTU (capital) 1,000 (2014)

Median age

female

32.2 years (2015 est.)

male

30 years

total

30.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

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

Net migration rate

-5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2015 est.)

Population

15,613 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.33% (2015 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 (2008 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.92 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

0% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea

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)

Citizenship

see France

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

cabinet

Council of the Territory 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 Marcel RENOUF (since 26 January 2015)

elections/appointments

French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second 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 assembly members

head of government

President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele KULIMOETOKE (since 26 November 2014)

note

there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers

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

note

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 is 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

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel, located in Noumea, New Caledonia

judge selection and term of office

NA

subordinate courts

note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Legal system

French civil law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms)

election results

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

elections

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

note

Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - by-election last held on 24 March 2013 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - independent (backed by UMP) 1

National anthem

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; national colors: red, white

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$31,330 (2004 est.)

revenues

$29,730

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

NA%

Debt - external

$3.67 million (2004)

Economy - overview

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. 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. France directly finances the public sector, health and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and health facilities. 70% of employment is in the public sector, although only about 20% of the population is in salaried employment. A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live in the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government.

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

89.85 (2013 est.)

90.56 (February 2012)

85.74 (2011 est.)

90.01 (2010 est.)

Exports

$47,450 (2004)

Exports - commodities

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$61.17 million (2004)

Imports - commodities

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

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.)

note

offical data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Taxes and other revenues

NA%

Unemployment rate

12.2% (2008 est.)

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 users

percent of population

8.5% (2009)

total

1,300

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Telephone system

international

country code - 681

Television broadcast stations

2 (2000)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

2

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Leava, Mata-Utu

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

3,314 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,376

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

139 (2010 est.)

male

168

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Disputes - international

none