world
factbook
Tuvalu
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period. The agreement was subsequently renegotiated but details were not disclosed. Tuvalu hosted the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.

geography

location

Oceania
8.0° S, 178. 0° E
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia

area

26 sq km
land
26 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

24 km

climate

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

terrain

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

elevation

2 m
lowest point
Pacific Ocean
0 m
highest point
unnamed location
5 m

natural resources

  • fish
  • coconut
  • copra

land use

  • arable land
  • permanent crops
  • permanent pasture
  • forest
  • other

population distribution

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

people

population

  • 11,342
  • 222
    global rank

nationality

  • Tuvaluan(s)
    noun
  • Tuvaluan
    adjective

ethnic groups

Tuvaluan
86.8 %
Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati
5.6 %
Tuvaluan/other
6.7 %
other
0.9 %

languages

  • Tuvaluan
    official
  • English
    official
  • Samoan
  • Kiribati
    on the island of Nui

religions

Protestant
92.4 %
Baha'i
2 %
Jehovah's Witness
1.3 %
Mormon
1 %
other
3.1 %
none
0.2 %

birth rate

  • 23.4
    per 1,000 population
  • 54
    global rank

death rate

  • 8.2
    per 1,000 population
  • 87
    global rank

urban population

64 %

major urban areas

  • Funafuti
    pop. 7,000

life expectancy

  • 67.9
    total population
  • 178
    global rank
65.6
male
70.2
female

adult obesity rate

  • 51.6%
    percent of adults
  • 5
    global rank

government

country name

    conventional

  • none
    long form
  • Tuvalu
    short form

    local

  • none
    long form
  • Tuvalu
    short form

government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

capital

Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet
8.31 S, 179.13 E

independence

national holidays

  • Independence Day
    1 October

legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law

age of suffrage

18

flag description

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean

national colors

  • light blue
  • yellow

national anthem

"Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty)

economy

overview

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly of food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, which pose significant challenges to development. The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are a significant source of government revenue. In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP. Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, has grown to $104 million (A$141 million) in 2014 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. While remittances are another substantial source of income, the value of remittances has declined since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but has stabilized at nearly $4 million per year. The financial impact of climate change and the cost of climate related adaptation projects is one of many concerns for the nation.

GDP

42,000,000 USD
2017

agriculture products

  • coconuts
  • fish

poverty level

26.3%
2010

budget

  • 42,680,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 32,460,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 2,000
    total subscriptions
  • 215
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 7,600
    total subscriptions
  • 215
    global rank

broadcast media

no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from international broadcasters (2019)

internet

.tv
country code

    users

  • 5,498
    total
  • 49.32
    % of population
  • 216
    global rank

energy

electricity access

99.4%
2016

transportation

air transport

    airports

  • 1
    total
  • paved

roadways

8 km
total length

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.