Tuvalu

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.

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

• since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other);
• 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;
• Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table

party to:

Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:

Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

0-14 years:

34% (male 1,872; female 1,802)

15-64 years:

61% (male 3,149; female 3,458)

65 years and over:

5% (male 239; female 318) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.75 male(s)/female

total population:

0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

total population:

66.32 years

male:

64.21 years

female:

68.53 years (2000 est.)

noun:

Tuvaluan(s)

adjective:

Tuvaluan

definition:

NA

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Tuvalu

former:

Ellice Islands

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA (since 26 June 1998)

head of government:

Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA (since NA April 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU (since NA April 1999)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections:

• the monarch is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister;
• prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of Parliament;
• election last held 27 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:

• Ionatana IONATANA elected prime minister;
• percent of Parliament vote - NA;
• Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU elected deputy prime minister;
• percent of Parliament vote - NA

• eight Island Courts;
• High Court;
• note - a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court

• 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

agriculture:

NA%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA%

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

fossil fuel:

NA%

hydro:

NA%

nuclear:

NA%

other:

NA%

domestic:

radiotelephone communications between islands

international:

NA

total:

8 km (1996 est.)

paved:

NA km

unpaved:

NA km