Wallis and Futuna
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km 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 Map references: Australia/Oceania Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W Natural resources: NEGL Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills Geography - note: both island groups have fringing reefs 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 Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Coastline: 129 km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: 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 Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: NA Land use: arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: NA (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.) Net migration rate: NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Polynesian Population: 15,237 (July 2008 est.) Population growth rate: NA (2008 est.) Languages: Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census) Death rate: NA (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: (male 2,215/female 1,999) 15-64 years: (male 4,982/female 4,996) 65 years and over: (male 465/female 580) Birth rate: NA (2008 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1% Nationality: noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of France) National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government type: NA Political pressure groups and leaders: NA Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France) Dependency status: overseas territory of France International organization participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 April 2007 (next to be held 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 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 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1 Legal system: the laws of France, where applicable, apply 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 Independence: none (overseas territory of France) Country name (Goverment): 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 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 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) Constitution: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) Executive branch: chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July 2008) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pesamino TAPUTAI (since 11 April 2007) 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 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 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
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2002) Debt - external: $3.67 million (2004) Unemployment rate: 15.2% (2003) GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,800 (2004 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $60 million (2004 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $NA 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) GDP - real growth rate: NA% Labor force: 3,104 (2003) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2005) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Exports: $47,450 f.o.b. (2004) Currency (code): Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF) 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. Imports - commodities: chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2002) Population below poverty line: NA% Electricity - production: NA kWh Imports: $61.17 million f.o.b. (2004) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.) Public debt: 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.) Currency code: XPF Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: copra, chemicals, construction materials Economic aid - recipient: assistance from France, $NA Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% Budget: revenues: $29,730 expenditures: $31,330 (2004) Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 900 (2002) Telephones - main lines in use: 1,900 (2002) Televisions: NA Internet country code: .wf Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000) Radios: NA Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Television broadcast stations: 2 (2000) Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681 Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000) Internet hosts: 1 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Leava, Mata-Utu Merchant marine: total: 8 by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008) 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) Airports: 2 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 172 female: 170 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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