Tuvalu

Voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga first populated Tuvalu in the first millennium A.D., and the islands provided a stepping-stone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence, although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships visited the islands, which were named the Ellice Islands in 1819. <br><br>The UK declared a protectorate over islands in 1892 and merged them with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate became a colony in 1916. During World War II, the US set up military bases on a few islands, and in 1943, after Japan captured many of the northern Gilbert Islands, the UK transferred administration of the colony southward to Funafuti. After the war, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands was once again made the colony’s capital, and the center of power was firmly in the Gilbert Islands, including the colony’s only secondary school. Amid growing tensions with the Gilbertese, Tuvaluans voted to secede from the colony in 1974, were granted self-rule in 1975, and gained independence in 1978 as Tuvalu. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims to the Tuvaluan islands in a treaty of friendship.

Land

26 sq km

Total

26 sq km

Water

0 sq km

about the size of Washington, D.C.

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

24 km

Oceania

Highest point

unnamed location 5 m

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

2 m

8 00 S, 178 00 E

one of the smallest and most remote countries on earth; six of the nine coral atolls -- Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae -- have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

0 sq km (2022)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

60% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Forest

34.3% (2023 est.)

Other

5.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

60%

No

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/LbuUxtkgm1dfN1Pn6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2177266

Oceania

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

fish, coconut (copra)

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Polynesia

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

UTC+12:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

29.2% (male 1,754/female 1,672)

15-64 years

63.2% (male 3,736/female 3,675)

65 years and over

7.6% (2024 est.) (male 326/female 570)

Beer

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

21.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

1.7% (2020)

Women married by age 15

0% (2020)

Women married by age 18

1.8% (2020)

2.9% (2019 est.)

64.2% (2020 est.)

7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

190 per 1,000

adult male

313 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

12.6 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

7.9 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

59 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

46.4 (2025 est.)

improved total

8.72%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

12.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

16.8% national budget (2025 est.)

13 % of GDP

Tuvaluan 97%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 1.6%, Tuvaluan/other 0.8%, other 0.6% (2017 est.)

1.34 (2025 est.)

27 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

20% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.48%

Female

24 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

31.3 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

languages

English, Tuvaluan

number of languages

2

Female

71.6 years

Male

66.5 years

Total population

69 years (2024 est.)

Female

100% (2022 est.)

Male

100% (2022 est.)

Total population

100% (2022 est.)

7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)

170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

28.8 years

Male

26.8 years

Total

28.1 years (2025 est.)

28 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Tuvaluan

Noun

Tuvaluan(s)

-6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

51.6% (2016)

1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Female

5,959

Male

5,865

Total

11,824 (2025 est.)

0.75% (2025 est.)

Protestant 92.7% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.9%, Brethren 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assemblies of God 1.5%), Baha'i 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 3.9%, none or refused 0.4% (2017 est.)

improved total

39.71%

Improved: rural

rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 96.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 3.3% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.57 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

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

Female

18.1% (2025 est.)

Male

46.2% (2025 est.)

Total

32.4% (2025 est.)

2.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

66.2% of total population (2023)

measles

97%

7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu

Etymology

the town has the same name as the island it is located on; the name may either come from the Polynesian word <em>futi </em>(banana) or the name Futi, one of the wives of a local ruler, with the word <em>funa </em>added as a feminine prefix

Geographic coordinates

8 31 S, 179 13 E

Name

Funafuti

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the capital is an atoll of 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

Time difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

na

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/tv.svg

Amendment process

proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading

History

previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986

alternative spellings

TV

Conventional long form

none

Conventional short form

Tuvalu

Etymology

the name in the local language means "group of eight" or "eight standing together," referring to eight of the country's nine islands; the remaining island, Nui, was left out of the original grouping because its inhabitants spoke a different language; the former name was given in honor of Canadian shipping company owner Alexander Ellice, who owned a ship that visited the islands in 1819

Former

Ellice Islands

Local long form

none

local long form (eng)

Tuvalu

Local short form

Tuvalu

Embassy

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Chancery

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017

Chief of mission

Ambassador Tapugao FALEFOU (since 19 April 2023); note - also Permanent Representative to UN

Email address and website

<br>tuvalumission.un@gmail.com<br><br>tuvalu.unmission@gov.tv<br><br>https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about

FAX

[1] (212) 808-4975

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy

Telephone

[1] (212) 490-0534

Cabinet

Cabinet members selected by the prime minister

Chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>TEO was the only candidate nominated by the House of Assembly<em><br><br>2019: </em>Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote - 10 to 6

Election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister and the parliament; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections

Head of government

Prime Minister Feleti Penitala TEO (since 27 February 2024)

<strong>description:</strong> light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the right half of the flag has nine five-pointed yellow stars  <br><br><strong>meaning: </strong>the stars represent a map of the country, with each symbolizing an atoll in the ocean

The flag of Tuvalu has a light blue field with the flag of the United Kingdom — the Union Jack — in the canton. A representation of the country's nine Islands using nine five-pointed yellow stars is situated in the fly half of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/tv.svg

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

1 October 1978 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment

Subordinate courts

magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts

mixed system of English common law and local customary law

Chamber name

Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu)

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

January 2028

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Palamene)

Most recent election date

1/26/2024

Number of seats

16 (all directly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

0%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

light blue, yellow

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

maneapa (native meeting house)

<strong>note:</strong> no political parties, but members of parliament usually align in informal groupings

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

coconuts, vegetables, tropical fruits, bananas, root vegetables, pork, chicken, eggs, pork fat, pork offal (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$88 million (2019 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Revenues

$87 million (2019 est.)

code

AUD, TVD

name

Australian dollar (AUD) [$], Tuvaluan dollar (TVD) [$]

$2.71 million

Current account balance 2020

$8.46 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$14.533 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$2.713 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

upper middle-income Pacific island economy; extremely environmentally fragile; currency pegged to Australian dollar; large international aid recipient; subsistence agrarian sector; Te Kakeega sustainable development; domain name licensing incomes

Currency

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exports 2020

$3.089 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$2.745 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.232 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

fish (2023)

note

<strong>note:</strong> top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Thailand 88%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, Ireland 1%, USA 1% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$258,080

Agriculture

15.9% (2015 est.)

Industry

7% (2015 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

70% (2012 est.)

$62.28 million (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$6,345

39.1 (2010)

$84.22 million

$8,770

Imports 2020

$56.947 million (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$63.962 million (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$57.388 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, fish, hand tools (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 42%, Fiji 24%, Japan 11%, Australia 11%, NZ 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

1.9% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

6.2% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> annual % change based on consumer prices

Public debt 2016

47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

$60.38 million

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$54.568 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$54.938 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$57.055 million (2023 est.)

3.85%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.8% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.9% (2023 est.)

$6,151

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$5,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$5,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$5,800 (2023 est.)

$2.59 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

99.1%

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

100%

fossil fuels

84.16%

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

15.84%

5.2%

per 100 inhabitants

5 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2022 est.)

Total

0 (2022 est.)

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

.tv

Percent of population

74% (2023 est.)

+688

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

2,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

99 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

99 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

9,880 (2022 est.)

1 (2025)

T2

Left

By type

bulk carrier 21, container ship 3, general cargo 29, oil tanker 19, other 198

Total

270 (2023)

Key ports

Funafuti Atoll

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

1

TUV

as part of the Falepili Union treaty between Australia and Tuvalu, which entered into force in August 2024, Australia committed to assist Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic, or military aggression; Tuvalu pledged to mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement, or engagement with any other State or entity on security and defense-related matters in Tuvalu<br><br>Tuvalu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tuvalu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force

limited freshwater resources; beach erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs; rising sea levels

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

6.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

0 % of total land area

16 % of total

Municipal solid waste generated annually

4,000 tons (2024 est.)