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.

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 274 km²
Land: 274 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
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

Natural resources: negligible

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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of France

Population: 14,499 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)

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

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

Population growth rate: 1.11% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 25.06 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 5.14 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -8.85 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

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
Current issues international agreements: NA

Infant mortality rate: 24.92 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.24 years
Male: 71.62 years
Female: 72.9 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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

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 Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of government: High Administrator Philippe LEGRIX (since NA); President of the Territorial Assembly Soane Mani UHILA (since NA March 1992)
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 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4
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

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: the flag of France is used

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 sugar and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $2,000 (1994 est.)

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

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

Fiscal year: NA

Exports: $6.6 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodoties: copra, handicrafts
Partners: NA

Imports: $13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing
Partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 96.25 (January 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

Electricity
Capacity: 1,200 kW
Production: 1 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Telephone system: 225 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Airports: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1

Waterways: none

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

Disputes international: none