Statistical information Tuvalu 1990
Tuvalu in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 1990 Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name '.tv' for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claimsExtended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November; westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
ElevationNatural resources: fish
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: located 3,000 km east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean geoad2
top of pagePopulation: 9,136 (July 1990), growth rate 2.0% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Tuvaluans(s; adjective--Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: 96% Polynesian
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Religions: Christian, predominantly Protestant
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 30 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: severe tropical storms are rare
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 33 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 63 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: less than 50%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: democracy
Capital: Funafuti
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 October 1978 (from UK; formerly Ellice Islands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution: 1 October 1978
Legal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Tupua LEUPENA (since 1 March 1986; Head of Government--Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16 October 1989; Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October 1989)
Legislative branch: NA
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, ESCAP (associate member), GATT (de facto), SPF, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador (vacant; US--none
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 symbolizing the nine islands
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor-quality soil. The country has a small economy, no known mineral resources, and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: coconuts, copra
Industries: fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $2.59 million; expenditures $3.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1983 est.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: NA
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.0 million (f.o.b., 1983 est.)
Commodities: copra
Partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Imports: $2.8 million (c.i.f., 1983 est.)
Commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity productionElectricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,043 GRT/450 DWT
Ports and terminalsTuvalu - Transnational issues 1990
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs