Introduction
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, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.
Geography
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
13 18 S, 176 12 W
Area (sq km)
total: 142 sq km
land: 142 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - comparative (sq km)
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries (km)
0 km
Coastline (km)
129 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
Terrain
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes (m)
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Land use (%)
arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
NA
Natural hazards
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 freshwater resources
Geography - note
both island groups have fringing reefs
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups (%)
Polynesian
Languages (%)
Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Religions (%)
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Population
15,561 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 1,902/female 1,741)
15-24 years: 17.8% (male 1,449/female 1,320)
25-54 years: 40.7% (male 3,147/female 3,183)
55-64 years: 9.2% (male 719/female 709)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 663/female 728) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 30.3 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 31.5 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
0.33% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
13.56 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-5.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2014 est.)
Major urban areas - population
MATA-UTU (capital) 1,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 79.42 years
male: 76.43 years
female: 82.55 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
1.76 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: rural: 96% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved: rural: 4% of population
total: 4% of population (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government
Country name
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
Dependency status
overseas territory of France
Government type
parliamentary representive democratic French overseas collectivity
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)
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
Independence
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution
4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)
Legal system
French civil law
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Vetelino NAU (since 4 April 2012)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
note: there are 3 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 elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4, UMP 4, centrists, 3, other 9
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 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 on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel, located in Noumea, New Caledonia
judge selection and term of office: NA
subordinate courts: note: 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
Political parties and leaders
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)
Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG
Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP)
Socialist Party or PS
Taumu'a Lelei
Union Populaire Locale or UPL
Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of France)
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
note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions
National symbol(s)
red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field
National anthem
note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy
Economy - overview
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$60 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP - real growth rate (%)
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force
3,104 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
12.2% (2008)
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Public debt (% of GDP)
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
note: offical data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
2.8% (2005)
Agriculture - products
coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate (%)
NA%
Exports
$47,450 (2004)
Exports - commodities (%)
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Imports
$61.17 million (2004)
Imports - commodities (%)
chemicals, machinery, consumer goods
External debt ($)
$3.67 million (2004)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
90.01 (February 2012)
87.59 (2007)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Communications
Telephone system
international: country code - 681
Broadcast media
the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)
Internet country code
.wf
Internet hosts
2,760 (2012)
Internet users
1,300 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu
Military
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 3,376
females age 16-49: 3,314 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 168
female: 139 (2010 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Largest cities of Wallis and Futuna
These are the 50 largest cities of Wallis and Futuna ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
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