Map of Wallis and Futuna | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959 the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.


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Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 274 km²
Land: 274 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Comparative note: Includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 129 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April; cool, dry season (May to October)

Terrain: Volcanic origin; low hills

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m

Natural resources: Negligible

Land use
Arable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 20%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 75%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
Adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups: Polynesian

Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Religions: Roman Catholic

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate: -8.23 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
8.85 migrants/1000 population 1995 est. Infant Mortality Rate: 23.59 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.) 24.92 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
Current issues Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Both island groups have fringing reefs

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.76 years (1996 est.), 72.24 years (1995 est.)
Male: 72.16 years (1996 est.), 71.62 years (1995 est.)
Female: 73.4 years (1996 est.), 72.9 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1969)
Total population: 50%
Male: 50%
Female: 51%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
Conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
Local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
Local short form: Wallis et Futuna

Government type: Overseas territory of France

Capital: Mata-Utu (on Île Uvea)

Administrative divisions: None (overseas territory of France)

Dependent areas

Independence: None (overseas territory of France)

National holiday

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
Head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele TAUHAVILI (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly
Note: There are three traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative branch: Unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale):Elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11 French Senate:Elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(1 total) RPR 1 French National Assembly:Elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA September 1996; results_percent of vote by party NA; seats_(1 total) MRG 1; note_Wallis and Futuna elect one deputy

Judicial branch: None; justice generally administered under French law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: FZ, SPC

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: A white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force .htmng its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food_particularly sugar and beef_fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture livestock and fishing: 80%
By occupation government: 4% (est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $14.04 million (1994 est.), $2.7 million (1983 est.)
Expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.), $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1983 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: NA

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports:
Commodities:
Partners: NA

Imports
Total value:
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1_91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990; note_linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 1 million kWh

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 340 telephones (1985 est.)
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 2
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: None

Merchant marine: total:1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000 DWT

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs