Tuvalu

democracyIndependence 1 October 1978 (from UK

Tuvalu as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalFunafuti

Area26 km2

Populationas each edition published it

9,317 people July 1991 · 9,136 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.74% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 24.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 62.64 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.1 children per woman 1991 · 3.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

33 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 33 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $530 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 4% in 1994

Geography

10 fields

Total area

26km2

land area: 26 km2Comparative area: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

24 km Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical;
moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November);
westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Land use

arable land 0%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 0%;
forest and woodland 0%;
other 100%

Note

located 3,000 km east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean

People

14 fields

Population

9,317

(July 1991), growth rate 1.9% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

29Death

10Net migration

Religion

Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%Baha'i 1%other 0.06%

Government

Democracy

15 fields

Independence

1 October 1978 (from UK; formerly Ellice Islands)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Judicial branch

High Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Tupua LEUPENA (since 1 March 1986);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16 October 1989);
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October 1989)

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Parliament--last held 28 September 1989 (next to be held by September 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(12 total)

Flag

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Economy

Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1984)

Budget

Revenues

$4.3 millionExpenditures

$4.3 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of a tourist industry.

Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea.