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 will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Oceania
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 238
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
24 km
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
low-lying and narrow coral atolls
mean elevation: 2 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
fish, coconut (copra)
agricultural land: 60% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 60% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 33.3% (2011 est.)
other: 6.7% (2011 est.)
0 sq km (2012)
over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
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
water needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; deforestation; 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
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
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
11,147 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Tuvaluan 86.8%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 5.6%, Tuvaluan/other 6.7%, other 0.9% (2012 est.)
Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Protestant 92.4% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.7%, Brethren 3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.8%, Assemblies of God .9%), Baha'i 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Mormon 1%, other 3.1%, none 0.2% (2012 est.)
0-14 years: 29.32%(male 1,675 /female 1,593)
15-24 years: 18.63%(male 1,078 /female 999)
25-54 years: 36.91%(male 2,080 /female 2,034)
55-64 years: 8.86%(male 404 /female 584)
65 years and over: 6.28%(male 274 /female 426) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
total: 26 years (2018 est.)
male: 25 years
female: 27.2 years
country comparison to the world: 152
0.86% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
23.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
urban population: 63.2% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.69 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
total: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 30.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 66
total population: 67.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 65 years
female: 69.5 years
country comparison to the world: 173
2.93 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
improved: urban: 98.3% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 97.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 2.3% of population (2015 est.)
15.5% (2016)
0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
improved: urban: 86.3% of population (2012 est.)
rural: 80.2% of population (2012 est.)
total: 83.3% of population (2012 est.)
unimproved: urban: 13.7% of population (2012 est.)
rural: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)
total: 16.7% of population (2012 est.)
NA
NA
NA
51.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 5
NA
total: 20.6%
male: 9.8%
female: 45.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 66
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
local long form: none
local short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands
etymology: "tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
name: Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet
geographic coordinates: 8 31 S, 179 13 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
1 October 1978 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
history: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986
amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading; amended 2007, 2010, 2013 (2017)
mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Kausea NATANO (since 19 September 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
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
election results: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6
description: unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (16 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 September 2019 (next to be held on September 2023)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16 (9 members reelected)
highest courts: 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
there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
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
none; the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017); address: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534; FAX: [1] (212) 808-4975
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
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
maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow
name: "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty)
lyrics/music: Afaese MANOA
note: adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto
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.
$42 million (2017 est.)
$40.68 million (2016 est.)
$39.48 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 226
$40 million (2017 est.)
3.2% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
9.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$3,800 (2017 est.)
$3,700 (2016 est.)
$3,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 180
government consumption: 87% (2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2016 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2016 est.)
imports of goods and services: -66.1% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.)
industry: 5.6% (2012 est.)
services: 70% (2012 est.)
coconuts; fish
fishing
-26.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
3,615 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)
NA
26.3% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: 42.68 million (2013 est.)
expenditures: 32.46 million (2012 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
country comparison to the world: 1
25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
37% of GDP (2017 est.)
47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
calendar year
4.1% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
10.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$0 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 124
$2 million (2017 est.)
$8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$600,000 (2010 est.)
$1 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
US 18.2%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 17%, Fiji 14.8%, Nigeria 14.2%, Germany 8.2%, South Africa 5.9%, Colombia 5.1% (2017)
copra, fish
$20.69 billion (2018 est.)
$19.09 billion (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Singapore 33.4%, South Korea 11.5%, Australia 10.8%, NZ 8%, Fiji 7.5%, Chile 6.1%, South Africa 5%, Japan 5% (2017)
NA
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
electrification - total population: 99.4% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 100% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 98.5% (2016)
11.8 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
0 kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
5,100 kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
0% of total installed capacity (2014)
country comparison to the world: 202
0% of total installed capacity (2014)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0 bbl (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 212
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 cu m (2014)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
total subscriptions: 2,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
total subscriptions: 7,600
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications; small global scale of 10,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration at 40% and broadband at 10% penetration; govt owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; satellite technology; hopeful future 5-year contract to improve high speed Internet for schools, hospitals and banks; 3G not launched yet (2018)
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands; fixed-line 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular 69 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite
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)
.tv
total: 5,042
percent of population: 46% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
total: 1,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)
T2 (2016)
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 237
total: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 8 km (2011)
paved: 8 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 214
total: 254
by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 1, general cargo 41, oil tanker 25, other 163 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 58
major seaport(s): Funafuti
none