Tuvalu
none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands
democracyIndependence 1 October 1978 (from UK)
Tuvalu as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
fair cable and radiotelephone services domestic: NA international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Television broadcast stations
television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands
Geography
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
14 fieldsLocation
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Climate
- tropical;
- moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November);
- westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain
very low-lying and narrow coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture
Environment
- current issues:
- since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities;
- beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials;
- excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel;
- damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
- signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 36% (male 1,865; female 1,798) 15-64 years: 59% (male 2,831; female 3,162) 65 years and over: 5% (male 227; female 263) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 63.34 years male: 62.15 years female: 64.59 years (1996 est.)
Government
Democracy
19 fieldsLegislature, 12 seatsone dot, one seat
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994) who was appointed by the queen on recommendation of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993) were elected by and from the members of Parliament cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
Parliament (Fale I Fono)
- members elected for four-year terms;
- elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997);
- results - percent of vote NA;
- seats - (12 total) independents 12
International organization participation
ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
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.
20 fieldsEconomic overview
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, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%.
Budget
revenues: $4.3 million expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Imports
$4.4 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ
Exchange rates
Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,786 GRT/89,128 DWT ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tuvalu.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tuvalu/1996.