World Factbook
Tuvalu
Introduction
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. Tuvalu will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.
Geography
Location
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references
Oceania
Area
total: 26 sq km
land: 26 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 238
Area - comparative
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
24 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
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
mean elevation: 2 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources
fish, coconut (copra)
Land use
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.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
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
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international 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
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
People and Society
Population
11,147 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
Nationality
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups
Tuvaluan 86.8%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 5.6%, Tuvaluan/other 6.7%, other 0.9% (2012 est.)
Languages
Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Religions
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.)
Age structure
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:
Median age
total: 26 years (2018 est.)
male: 25 years
female: 27.2 years
country comparison to the world: 152
Population growth rate
0.86% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Birth rate
23.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Death rate
8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Net migration rate
-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Population distribution
over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
Urbanization
urban population: 63.2% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
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.)
Infant mortality rate
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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 65 years
female: 69.5 years
country comparison to the world: 173
Total fertility rate
2.93 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Drinking water source
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.)
Current Health Expenditure
15.5% (2016)
Physicians density
0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access
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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
51.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 5
Education expenditures
NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 20.6%
male: 9.8%
female: 45.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 66
Government
Country name
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
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
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)
Administrative divisions
7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Independence
1 October 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution
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)
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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
Legislative branch
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)
Judicial branch
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
Political parties and leaders
there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
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 symbol(s)
maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow
National anthem
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
Economy
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 (purchasing power parity)
$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
GDP (official exchange rate)
$40 million (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.2% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
9.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,800 (2017 est.)
$3,700 (2016 est.)
$3,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 180
GDP - composition, by end use
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.)
industry: 5.6% (2012 est.)
services: 70% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products
coconuts; fish
Industries
fishing
Industrial production growth rate
-26.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Labor force
3,615 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Labor force - by occupation
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)
Unemployment rate
NA
Population below poverty line
26.3% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: 42.68 million (2013 est.)
expenditures: 32.46 million (2012 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
Taxes and other revenues
106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
country comparison to the world: 1
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Public debt
37% of GDP (2017 est.)
47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.1% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Commercial bank prime lending rate
10.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Market value of publicly traded shares
$0 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 124
Current account balance
$2 million (2017 est.)
$8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Exports
$600,000 (2010 est.)
$1 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Exports - partners
US 18.2%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 17%, Fiji 14.8%, Nigeria 14.2%, Germany 8.2%, South Africa 5.9%, Colombia 5.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities
copra, fish
Imports
$20.69 billion (2018 est.)
$19.09 billion (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Imports - commodities
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Imports - partners
Singapore 33.4%, South Korea 11.5%, Australia 10.8%, NZ 8%, Fiji 7.5%, Chile 6.1%, South Africa 5%, Japan 5% (2017)
Debt - external
NA
Exchange rates
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 99.4% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 100% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 98.5% (2016)
Electricity - production
11.8 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Electricity - installed generating capacity
5,100 kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - from fossil fuels
96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2014)
country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2014)
country comparison to the world: 209
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day
country comparison to the world: 212
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2014)
country comparison to the world: 209
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7,600
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Telephone system
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
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 country code
.tv
Internet users
total: 5,042
percent of population: 46% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
T2 (2016)
Airports
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 237
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways
total: 8 km (2011)
paved: 8 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 214
Merchant marine
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
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Funafuti
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
