Statistical information Tuvalu 1996

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 1996 Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name '.tv' for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 26 km²
Land: 26 km²
Comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: 5 m
Natural resources: Fish
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%
Note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
10,146 (July 1996 est.)
9,991 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:1.51% (1996 est.)
1.58% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Tuvaluans(s)
Adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Religions:
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%
Baha'i 1%
Other 0.6%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years:36% (male 1,865; female 1,798)
36% (male 1,852; female 1,787)
15-64 years:59% (male 2,831; female 3,162)
59% (male 2,764; female 3,105)
65 years and over:5% (male 227; female 263) (July 1996 est.)
5% (male 225; female 258) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
1.51% (1996 est.)
1.58% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
23.95 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
24.82 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
8.87 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
9.01 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish
Current issues Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare
International agreements: party to_Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
All ages:0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:27.6 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
27.9 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 63.34 years (1996 est.), 63.15 years (1995 est.)
Male: 62.15 years (1996 est.), 61.87 years (1995 est.)
Female: 64.59 years (1996 est.), 64.34 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (1996 est.)
3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.)
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: definition:NA
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Tuvalu
Former: Ellice Islands
Government type: Democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Capital: Funafuti
Administrative divisions: None
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 October 1978 (from U.K.)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution: 1 October 1978
Legal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Tulaga MANUELLA (since NA June 1994)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993); Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993)
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: Unicameral Parliament (Palamene):Elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997; results_percent of vote NA; seats_(12 total)
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representationFlag description
Tuvalu flag:Light blue with the flag of the U.K. 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.
Another flag was used from NA until NA, had three horizontal bands, red at the top and bottom, light blue in between, seperated by two narrow white lines. The blue part had a white triangle on the host side with the coat of arms.
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has 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, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA
Real gdp per capita:
purchasing power parity_ $800 (1995 est.)
$800 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: Coconuts and fish
Industries:
Fishing
Tourism
Copra
Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA
Labor force: NA
By occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: NA
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $4.3 million
Expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1989 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: NA
Inflation 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: total value. $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
Commodities: Copra
Partners:Fiji
Australia
NZ
Imports: total value:$4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Commodities:Food
Animals
Mineral fuels
Machinery
Manufactured goods
Partners:Fiji
Australia
NZ
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1: 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 2,600 kW
Production: 3 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 330 kWh (1990)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 130 telephones (1983 est.)
Domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
International: NA
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,786 GRT/89,128 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Ports and terminalsTuvalu - Transnational issues 1996
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs