Introduction

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 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.
`

Geography

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: 142 sq km country comparison to the world: 219 land: 142 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 (on Futuna) 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 freshwater resources`
Geography - note: |  |
`both island groups have fringing reefs`

People

Population: |  |
`15,398 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 220`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 25.1% (male 2,018/female 1,846) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,191/female 5,137) 65 years and over: 7.8% (male 563/female 643) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 28.5 years male: 27.5 years female: 29.7 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.357% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 165`
Birth rate: |  |
`13.96 births/1,000 population NA (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
Death rate: |  |
`4.68 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 197`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 197 note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2011 est.)`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 0% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 187 male: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 78.98 years country comparison to the world: 42 male: 76 years female: 82.11 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.81 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 151`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population (2008)`
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 (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 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.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

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: |  |
`French civil law`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor BRIAL (since 11 December 2007)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
note: there are 3 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 elected by the members of the assembly
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 1 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, other 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 on 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - elections last held on 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); Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei; Union Populaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`NA`
International organization participation: |  |
`PIF (observer), 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
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 used for official occasions
`

National anthem: |  |
`note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)`

Economy

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): |  |
`$60 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 220`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$NA`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$3,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 160`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Labor force: |  |
`3,104 (2003) country comparison to the world: 222`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`15.2% (2003) country comparison to the world: 153`
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 (2004)`
Public debt: |  |
`5.6% of GDP (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 128`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 80`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`coconuts, 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 (2004) country comparison to the world: 221`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`copra, chemicals, construction materials`
Imports: |  |
`$61.17 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 216`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`chemicals, machinery, consumer goods`
Debt - external: |  |
`$3.67 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 193`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007) 94.97 (2006) 95.89 (2005) 96.04 (2004) 105.66 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`3,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 217`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`NA`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: NA domestic: NA 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 television and radio stations (2008)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.wf`
Internet hosts: |  |
`1,734 (2010) country comparison to the world: 156`
Internet users: |  |
`1,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 211`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 202`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 8 country comparison to the world: 122 by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Leava, Mata-Utu`

Military

Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 3,376 females age 16-49: 3,314 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 168 female: 139 (2010 est.)`
Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of France`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011