2024 Edition Primary

Background

Around 800 B.C., the first settlers arrived on the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are a natural midpoint between Fiji and Samoa. Around A.D. 1500, Tongans invaded Wallis, and a chiefdom system resembling Tonga’s formal hierarchy developed on the island. Tongans attempted to settle Futuna but were repeatedly rebuffed. Samoans settled Futuna in the 1600s, and a slightly less centralized chiefdom system formed. Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to see the islands in 1616, followed intermittently by other Europeans, including British explorer Samuel WALLIS in 1767. French Catholic missionaries were the first Europeans to permanently settle Wallis and Futuna in 1837, and they converted most of the population of both islands by 1846. The missionaries and newly converted King LAVELUA of Uvea on Wallis asked France for a protectorate in 1842 following a local rebellion. France agreed, although the protectorate status would not be ratified until 1887. In 1888, King MUSULAMU of Alo and King TAMOLE of Sigave, both on Futuna, signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate; the Wallis and Futuna protectorate was integrated into the territory of New Caledonia the same year. France renegotiated the terms of the protectorate with the territory’s three kings in 1910, expanding French authority.Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, until the arrival of Free French and US troops in 1942. In 1959, inhabitants of the islands voted to separate from New Caledonia, becoming a French overseas territory in 1961. Despite the split, a significant Wallisian and Futunan community still lives in New Caledonia. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity. The islands joined the Pacific Islands Forum as an associate member in 2018, two years after France’s other Pacific territories became full members of the organization.

Area

land

142 sq km

note

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

highest point

Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Geography - note

both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes

Irrigated land

0.6 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

42.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

41.9% (2018 est.)

other

15.3% (2018 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

cyclones; tsunamis

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Age structure

0-14 years

19.8% (male 1,643/female 1,511)

15-64 years

67.5% (male 5,535/female 5,247)

65 years and over

12.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,023/female 1,005)

Birth rate

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56% (2023)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

20.4

potential support ratio

4.9 (2021)

total dependency ratio

57

youth dependency ratio

36.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.1% of population

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

Gross reproduction rate

0.83 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.2 years

male

78.2 years

total population

81.1 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

37.3 years

male

35.5 years

total

36.3 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

noun

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

Net migration rate

-3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

NA

Population

female

7,763 (2024 est.)

male

8,201

total

15,964

Population growth rate

0.22% (2024 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 92.9% of population

improved: total

total: 92.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: 7.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 7.1% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.02 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.71 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2023)

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

amendments

French constitution amendment procedures apply

history

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands

conventional short form

Wallis and Futuna

etymology

Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island

former

Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands

local long form

Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna

local short form

Wallis et Futuna

Dependency status

overseas collectivity of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

chief of state

President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Blaise GOURTAY (since 1 August 2023)

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); administrator superior 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 Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022)

note

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

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 democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia)

judge selection and term of office

NA

subordinate courts

courts of first instance; labor court; 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 - Wallis 13, Futuna 7; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

Territorial Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 2 members are elected from the list Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua and 2 members are elected from list Mauli fetokoniaki, 1 seat each from 16 other lists; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NAFrench Senate representative - LR 1French National Assembly representative - independent 1

elections

Territorial Assembly - last held on 20 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2027)French Senate - last held on 24 September 2023 (next to be held on 30 September 2026)French National Assembly - last held on 12 and 19 June 2022 (next to be held in June 2027)

note

note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term

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

Left Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR Socialist Party or PSTaumu'a Lelei Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$34.18 million (2015 est.)

revenues

$32.54 million (2015 est.)

Economic overview

lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy; heavily reliant on French subsidies; licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea; major remittances from New Caledonia; aging workforce; import-dependent; deforestation-fueled fragility

Exchange rates

Currency

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

Exchange rates 2019

110.347 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

104.711 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

100.88 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

113.474 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

110.347 (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

integrated circuits, jewelry, cars, aircraft parts, polyacetals (2019)

Exports - partners

France 48%, Singapore 12%, US 10%, Guatemala 9%, UK 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, beef products, poultry meats, engine parts, packaged medicines (2019)

Imports - partners

Fiji 38%, France 31%, NZ 8%, Iceland 6%, Australia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

0.9% (2015)

Taxes and other revenues

16.7% (of GDP) (2015 est.)

Broadcast media

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.wf

Internet users

percent of population

45.8% (2021 est.)

total

5,496 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity 26 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

2G widespread; bandwidth is limited; mobile subscriber numbers are higher than fixed-line and better suited for islands; good mobile coverage in the capital cities and also reasonable coverage across more remote atolls; recent international interest in infrastructure development; increase in demand for mobile broadband as mobile services serve as primary source for Internet access; broadband satellite launched in 2019 to improve costs and capability (2020)

international

country code - 681; landing point for the Tui-Samoa submarine cable network connecting Wallis & Futuna, Samoa and Fiji (2020)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

3,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2019)

total subscriptions

0 (2018)

Airports

2 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1

total

1 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Mata-Utu

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

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

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; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural productivity

Land use

agricultural land

42.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

41.9% (2018 est.)

other

15.3% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2023)