| Wallis and Futuna (overseas collectivity of France) |  | Click to enlarge
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This page was last updated on 19 June 2008
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| Introduction | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

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. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

| Geography | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

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 references: | Oceania
Area: | total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - 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 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 highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: | NEGL
Land use: | arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005)
Irrigated land: | NA
Natural hazards: | NA
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
Geography - note: | both island groups have fringing reefs

| People | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Population: | 16,448 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: | NA
Birth rate: | NA
Death rate: | NA (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | NA (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA
Nationality: | noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: | Polynesian
Religions: | Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages: | Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)

| Government | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

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
Dependency status: | overseas territory of France
Government type: | NA
Capital: | name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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 at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis
Independence: | none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: | 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: | the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Richard DIDIER (since 19 July 2006) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001) 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 five-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 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7 note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held by September 2010); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1
Judicial branch: | 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; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Political parties and leaders: | Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation 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; the flag of France is the only official flag

| Economy | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $60 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $NA
GDP - real growth rate: | NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $3,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: | 3,104 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 15.2% (2003)
Population below poverty line: | NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 2.8% (2005)
Budget: | revenues: $29,730 expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Public debt: | 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: | breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries: | copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | NA kWh
Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2002)
Exports: | $47,450 f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities: | copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners: | Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)
Imports: | $61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities: | chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners: | France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient: | assistance from France, $NA
Debt - external: | $3.67 million (2004)
Currency (code): | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Exchange rates: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - NA (2007), 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

| Communications | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA
Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Television broadcast stations: | 2 (2000)
Internet country code: | .wf
Internet hosts: | 1 (2007)
Internet users: | 900 (2002)

| Transportation | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Airports: | 2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine: | total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 92,346 GRT/98,307 DWT by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Leava, Mata-Utu

| Military | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

| Transnational Issues | Wallis and Futuna | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 19 June 2008