Tuvalu
none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracyIndependence 1 October 1978 (from UK)
Tuvalu as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
17 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)
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues
- 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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 33.28% (male 1,862; female 1,796) 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 3,241; female 3,529) 65 years and over: 5.12% (male 236; female 327) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.65 years male: 64.52 years female: 68.88 years (2001 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA (since 26 June 1998) head of government: Acting Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU (since 8 December 2000)
18 fieldsParliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly, 12 seatsone dot, one seat
Government type
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA (since 26 June 1998) head of government: Acting Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU (since 8 December 2000);
- note - TUILIMU took over after Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA died suddenly of a heart attack on 8 December 2000 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: results of the last election for prime minister - Ionatana IONATANA elected prime minister;
- percent of Parliament vote - NA%;
- Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU elected deputy prime minister;
- percent of Parliament vote - NA%;
- note - Deputy Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU became acting prime minister following the death of Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA on 8 December 2000
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (12 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch
- High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji);
- eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders
there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
International organization participation
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IFRCS (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description
- 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 densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil.
28 fieldsEconomy - overview
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, 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. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances.
About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources decline. 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.
Thanks to wise investments and conservative withdrawals, this Fund has grown from an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu, with 1999 payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries at about $9 million, a total which is expected to rise annually.
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%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from the sale of its ".tv" Internet domain name.
Royalties from these new technology sources could raise GDP three or more times over the next decade. In 1999, with merchandise exports falling and financing reaching less than 5% of imports, continued reliance was placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and investment income from overseas assets to cover the trade deficit.
Labor force - by occupation
people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those working abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)
Budget
revenues: $6.2 million expenditures: $6.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Exchange rates
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands international: NA
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 52,135 GRT/68,300 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.)
Military
No regular military forces; Police Force includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations
3 fieldsMilitary branches
no regular military forces; Police Force includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and surveillance operations
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tuvalu.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tuvalu/2001.