world
factbook
Wallis And Futuna
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 that status in 1961. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna's designation changed to that of an overseas collectivity.

geography

location

Oceania
13.18° S, 176. 12° W
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

area

142 sq km
land
142 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

129 km

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

terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

elevation

lowest point
Pacific Ocean
0
highest point
Mont Singavi (on Futuna)
522

natural resources

  • NEGL

land use

arable land
7.1 %
permanent crops
35.7 %
permanent pasture
0 %
forest
41.9 %
other
15.3 %

people

population

  • 15,854
  • 221
    global rank

nationality

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

ethnic groups

  • Polynesian

languages

  • Wallisian
    indigenous Polynesian language
  • Futunian
  • French
    official
  • other
    2003 census

religions

Roman Catholic
99 %
other
1 %

birth rate

  • 12.7
    per 1,000 population
  • 151
    global rank

death rate

  • 5.7
    per 1,000 population
  • 179
    global rank

urban population

0 %

major urban areas

  • Mata-Utu
    pop. 1,000

life expectancy

  • 80.2
    total population
  • 48
    global rank
77.2
male
83.4
female

government

country name

    conventional

  • Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
    long form
  • Wallis and Futuna
    short form

    local

  • Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
    long form
  • Wallis et Futuna
    short form

government type

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

capital

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
13.57 S, 171.56 W

independence

national holidays

  • Bastille Day
    14 July

legal system

French civil law

age of suffrage

18

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

national colors

  • red
  • white

economy

overview

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

GDP

60,000,000 USD
2004

agriculture products

  • coconuts
  • breadfruit
  • yams
  • taro
  • bananas
  • pigs
  • goats
  • fish

budget

  • 32,540,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 34,180,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

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

.wf
country code

    users

  • 3,450
    total
  • 22.1
    % of population
  • 217
    global rank

energy

This entry doesn't have any available energy data.

transportation

air transport

    airports

  • 2
    total
  • 2
    paved

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.