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: 13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 274 km²
Land: 274 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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; rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity; average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills

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

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use
Arable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 20%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: both island groups have fringing reefs


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Population: 15,129 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 1.04% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

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 100%

Demographic profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.04% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 22.34 births/1000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.26 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 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
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

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 can read and write
Total population: 50%
Male: 50%
Female: 50% (1969 est.)

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: NA

Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo

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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA)
Head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor BRIAL (since 1 June 1997)
Cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
Note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NA
Note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate_elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007); results_percent of vote by party_NA; seats_RPR 1; French National Assembly_elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by NA March 2002); results_percent of vote by party_NA; seats_RPR 1

Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French law by the high 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
In the us: none (overseas territory of France)
From the us: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: a large 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 earning 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 flour, sugar, rice, and beef_fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting mostly of breadfruit, yams, and taro root.

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: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production 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: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $20 million
Expenditures: $20 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

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: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodities: copra, handicrafts
Partners: NA

Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing
Partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

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_102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994; note_linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc


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Electricity access

Electricity production: NA kWh
By source fossil fuel: NA%
By source hydro: NA%
By source nuclear: NA%
By source other: NA%

Electricity consumption: NA kWh

Electricity exports: NA kWh

Electricity imports: NA kWh

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
Domestic: 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 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine
Total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,160 GRT/41,656 DWT
Ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger 1 (1998 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs