2017 Edition

Background

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.

Area

26 sq km 26 sq km 0 sq km

land

26 sq km

total

26 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

24 km

Elevation

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

mean elevation

2 m

Environment - current issues

water needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; rising sea levels threaten water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

60% arable land 0%; permanent crops 60%; permanent pasture 0% 33.3% 6.7% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

60%

forest

33.3%

other

6.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, coconut (copra)

Population - distribution

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Terrain

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Age structure

29.29% (male 1,659/female 1,578) 19.26% (male 1,106/female 1,023) 36.66% (male 2,036/female 2,016) 8.77% (male 396/female 573) 6.02% (male 263/female 402) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

29.29% (male 1,659/female 1,578)

15-24 years

19.26% (male 1,106/female 1,023)

25-54 years

36.66% (male 2,036/female 2,016)

55-64 years

8.77% (male 396/female 573)

65 years and over

6.02% (male 263/female 402) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

23.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.6% (2007)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30.5% (2007)

Death rate

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.3% of population rural: 97% of population total: 97.7% of population urban: 1.7% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)

rural

3% of population

total

2.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1.7% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Health expenditures

16.5% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

29 deaths/1,000 live births 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

31.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

29 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

66.9 years 64.7 years 69.2 years (2017 est.)

female

69.2 years (2017 est.)

male

64.7 years

total population

66.9 years

Major urban areas - population

FUNAFUTI (capital) 6,000 (2014)

Median age

25.7 years 24.7 years 26.9 years (2017 est.)

female

26.9 years (2017 est.)

male

24.7 years

total

25.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

23.5 years median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2007 est.)

Nationality

Tuvaluan(s) Tuvaluan

adjective

Tuvaluan

noun

Tuvaluan(s)

Net migration rate

-6.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

51.6% (2016)

Physicians density

1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

11,052 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Population growth rate

0.85% (2017 est.)

Religions

Protestant 98.4% (Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%), Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.3% of population rural: 80.2% of population total: 83.3% of population urban: 13.7% of population rural: 19.8% of population total: 16.7% of population (2012 est.)

rural

19.8% of population

total

16.7% of population (2012 est.)

urban

13.7% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.1 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.69 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.69 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.95 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

61.5% of total population (2017) 1.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

61.5% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

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

geographic coordinates

8 31 S, 179 13 E

name

Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 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

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

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

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

Constitution

previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986; amended 2007, 2010, 2013 (2016)

Country name

none Tuvalu none Tuvalu Ellice Islands "tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Tuvalu

etymology

"tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

former

Ellice Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017) note - Tuvalu does not have an embassy in Washington, D.C.; UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017 [1] (212) 490-0534 [1] (212) 937-0692

chancery

note - Tuvalu does not have an embassy in Washington, D.C.; UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017)

FAX

[1] (212) 937-0692

telephone

[1] (212) 490-0534

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010) Prime Minister Enele SOPOAGA (since 5 August 2013) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections Enele SOPOAGA elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 4 August 2013 - 8 to 5; note - Willie TELAVI removed as prime minister by the governor general on 1 August 2013

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010)

election results

Enele SOPOAGA elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 4 August 2013 - 8 to 5; note - Willie TELAVI removed as prime minister by the governor general on 1 August 2013

elections/appointments

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

head of government

Prime Minister Enele SOPOAGA (since 5 August 2013)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 October 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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) Appeal Court judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judges' tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice appointed for life; other judges appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; tenure of judges set by terms of appointment magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts

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

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

subordinate courts

magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (15 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) last held on 31 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019) percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 15; 12 members reelected

description

unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (15 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 15; 12 members reelected

elections

last held on 31 March 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

National anthem

"Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty) Afaese MANOA adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

lyrics/music

Afaese MANOA

name

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

note

adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

National symbol(s)

maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow

maneapa (native meeting house); national colors

light blue, yellow

Political parties and leaders

there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts; fish

Budget

$42.68 million $32.46 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$32.46 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$42.68 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

30.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.6% (31 December 2013 est.) 10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$-12 million (2016 est.) $2 million (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$NA

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.

Exchange rates

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.3442 (2013) 1.67 (2014 est.) 1.352 (2013 est.) 0.97 (2012 est.)

Exports

$600,000 (2010 est.) $1 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, fish

Exports - partners

Bosnia and Herzegovina 24.8%, Singapore 18.8%, Nigeria 17.3%, Fiji 14.5%, US 6% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

24.5% 5.6% 70% (2012 est.)

agriculture

24.5%

industry

5.6%

services

70% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,600 (2016 est.) $3,500 (2015 est.) $3,200 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2016 est.) 9.1% (2015 est.) 1.3% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$37 million (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40 million (2016 est.) $38 million (2015 est.) $34 million (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$136.5 million (2013 est.) $238.6 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Singapore 51.3%, NZ 9.4%, Australia 8.6%, US 6.8%, Japan 6.1%, Fiji 5.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-26.1% (2012 est.)

Industries

fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2016 est.) 3.2% (2015 est.)

Labor force

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

note

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$0 (2014)

Population below poverty line

26.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt

53.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 58.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

125.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2014)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5,100 kW (2011)

Electricity - production

11.8 million kWh (2011)

Electricity access

6,137 45% 57% 32% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

32% (2012)

electrification - total population

45%

electrification - urban areas

57%

population without electricity

6,137

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

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 (2009)

Internet country code

.tv

Internet users

5,042 46.0% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

46.0% (July 2016 est.)

total

5,042

Telephone system

serves particular needs for internal communications radiotelephone communications between islands country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite (2015)

domestic

radiotelephone communications between islands

general assessment

serves particular needs for internal communications

international

country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

2,000 18 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

2,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,600 69 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

69 (July 2016 est.)

total

7,600

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T2 (2016)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 4, cargo 24, chemical tanker 15, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1 33 (China 4, Indonesia 1, Maldives 1, Singapore 19, South Korea 1, Turkey 1, Vietnam 6) (2010)

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 24, chemical tanker 15, container 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned

33 (China 4, Indonesia 1, Maldives 1, Singapore 19, South Korea 1, Turkey 1, Vietnam 6) (2010)

total

58

Ports and terminals

Funafuti

major seaport(s)

Funafuti

Roadways

8 km 8 km (2011)

paved

8 km (2011)

total

8 km

Military branches

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)

Disputes - international

none