Background: The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767 but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842 and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2000 American troops. In 1959 the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.

Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S 176 12 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 142 km²
Land: 142 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes Ile Uvea Ile Futuna (Futuna Island) Ile Alofi and 20 islets
Rank: 221
Comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 129 km

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

Climate: tropical; hot rainy season (November to April); cool dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

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
Agricultural land: 42.8%
Forest: 41.9%
Other: 15.3%

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: both island groups have fringing reefs

Population: 15,613 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 222
Growth rate: 0.33% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 171
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Wallisian Futunan or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
Adjective: Wallisian Futunan or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups: Polynesian

Languages: Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9% Futunian 30.1% French (official) 10.8% other 0.2% (2003 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic 99% other 1%

Age structure
0-14 years: 22.71%
15-24 years: 17.41%
25-54 years: 41.11%
55-64 years: 9.45%
65 years and over: 9.33% (2014 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.9 years
Male: 30 years
Female: 32.2 years

Population growth rate: 0.33% (2014 est.)
Rank: 171

Birth rate: 13.45 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 149

Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 187

Net migration rate: -5.06 migrant(s)/1000 population
Note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia
Rank: 193

Urbanization
Urban population: 0% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: MATA-UTU (capital) 1000 (2014)

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 freshwater resources

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male/female
25-54 years: 1 male/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male/female
Total population: 1.03 male/female

Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.43 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 4.66 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.18 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 186

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.57 years
Male: 76.58 years
Female: 82.7 years
Rank: 44

Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 165

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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: parliamentary representive democratic French overseas collectivity

Capital
Name: Mata-Utu
Geographic coordinates: 13 57 S 171 56 W
Time difference: UTC+12

Administrative divisions: 3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions singular - circonscription) Alo Sigave Uvea

Independence: none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday: Bastille Day 14 July (1789)

Constitution: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French civil law

Citizenship: see France

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE ; represented by High Administrator Marcel RENOUF (since 26 January 2014)
Head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele KULIMOETOKE
Cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
Electionsappointments: French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-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 elected by assembly members
Note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale
Note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 28 September 2014 ; results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - by-election last held on 24 March 2013 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - independent (backed by UMP) 1
Elections: last held on 22 March 2012
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4 UMP 4 centrist 3 other 9

Judicial branch
Highest court: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel located in Noumea New Caledonia
Judge selection and term of office: NA
Subordinate courts: note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: PIF (observer) SPC UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of France)
From the us: none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: unofficial local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant
Note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions

National symbols: red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red white

National anthem
Note: as a territory of France 'La Marseillaise' is official

Economy overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture with 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables) livestock (mostly pigs) and fishing. 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. France directly finances the public sector health and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas including infrastructure economic development environmental management and health facilities. 70% of employment is in the public sector although only about 20% of the population is in salaried employment. A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live in the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $60 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 225

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $3,800 (2004 est.)
Rank: 179

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: coconuts breadfruit yams taro bananas; pigs goats; fish

Industries: copra handicrafts fishing lumber

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 3,104 (2003)
Rank: 225
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation industry: 4%
By occupation services: 16%

Unemployment rate: 12.2% (2008 est.)
Rank: 132

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $29,730
Expenditures: $31,330
Surplus or deficit: NA%

Taxes and other revenues: NA%

Public debt: 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Note: offical data; data cover general government debt and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds such as for retirement medical care and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Rank: 171

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.8% (2005)
Rank: 122

Exports: $47,450 (2004)
Rank: 221
Commodities: copra chemicals construction materials

Imports: $61.17 million (2004)
Rank: 219
Commodities: chemicals machinery consumer goods

Debt external: $3.67 million (2004)
Rank: 202

Exchange rates:

Telephone system
International: country code - 681

Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO) which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)

Internet
Country code: .wf
Users total: 1300
Users percent of population: 8.5%
Users rank: 211

Airports: 2 (2013)
Rank: 208
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Leava Mata-Utu

Disputes international: none