Wallis and Futuna Population: 15,763
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| History | |
| 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 that status in 1961. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna's designation changed to that of an overseas collectivity. |
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| Geography | |
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| 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: | 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 Size comparison: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 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 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius |
| Terrain: | volcanic origin; low hills |
| Natural resources: | NEGL |
| Land use: | agricultural land: 42.8% (2011 est.) arable land: 7.1% (2011 est.) permanent crops: 35.7% (2011 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) forest: 41.9% (2011 est.) other: 15.3% (2011 est.) |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards: | cyclones; tsunamis |
| Current Environment 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; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural producitivity |
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| People | |
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| 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: | 15,763 (July 2018 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.28% (male 1,749 /female 1,606) 15-24 years: 15.87% (male 1,336 /female 1,165) 25-54 years: 42.65% (male 3,391 /female 3,332) 55-64 years: 9.76% (male 752 /female 787) 65 years and over: 10.44% (male 782 /female 863) (2018 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 32.8 years male: 31.9 years female: 34 years (2018 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.3% (2018 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 13 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
| Death rate: | 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia |
| Urbanization: | urban population: 0% of total population (2018) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) |
| Major urban areas - population: | 1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2018 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 80 years male: 77 years female: 83.1 years (2018 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.72 children born/woman (2018 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access: | improved: rural: 96% of population (2008 est.) total: 96% of population (2008 est.) unimproved: rural: 4% of population (2008 est.) total: 4% of population (2008 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | n/a |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | n/a |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | n/a |
| Education expenditures: | n/a |
| Literacy: | |
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| Government | |
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| 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 former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island |
| Government type: | parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France |
| 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: | 3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea |
| Independence: | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| National holiday: | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
| Constitution: | history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply |
| Legal system: | French civil law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Administrator Jean-Francis TREFFEL (since 6 February 2017) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly David VERGE (since 4 April 2017) cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly elections/appointments: French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second 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 assembly members; 20 December Thierry Queffelec is appointed high administrator and will take office 7 January 2019 note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers |
| Legislative branch: | description: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats - Wallis 13, Futuna 7; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) Wallis and Futuna indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term, and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote for a 5-year term elections: Territorial Assembly - last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2022) French Senate - last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2020) French National Assembly - last held on 11 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022) election results: Territorial Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 2 members are elected from the list Fia gaue fakatahi kihe kaha'u e lelei and 1 each from 18 other lists; composition - men 14, women 6, percent of women 30% French Senate - LR 1 French National Assembly - independent 1 |
| Judicial branch: | highest courts: Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia) judge selection and term of office: NA subordinate courts: courts of first instance; labor court; note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu |
| Political parties and leaders: | Left Radical Party or PRG [Sylvia PINEL] (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU] Socialist Party or PS Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA] Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF |
| International organization participation: | PIF (observer), SPC, UPU |
| National symbol(s): | red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white |
| National anthem: | note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
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| Economy | |
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. However, roughly 70% of the labor force is employed in the public sector, although only about a third of the population is in salaried employment. 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. France directly finances the public sector and health-care and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and health-care facilities. A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live on the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $60 million (2004 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $195 million (2005) (2005) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | n/a |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $3,800 (2004 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 26% (2005) government consumption: 54% (2005) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: n/a industry: n/a services: n/a |
| Agriculture - products: | coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish |
| Industries: | copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber |
| Industrial production growth rate: | n/a |
| Labor force: | 4,482 (2013) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 74% industry: 3% services: 23% (2015 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 8.8% (2013 est.) 12.2% (2008 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | n/a |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: n/a highest 10%: n/a |
| Budget: | revenues: 32.54 million n/a (2015 est.) expenditures: 34.18 million n/a (2015 est.) |
| Taxes and other revenues: | 16.7% (of GDP) n/a (2015 est.) Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.8% (of GDP) n/a (2015 est.) |
| Public debt: | 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.) note: offical data; data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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 |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 0.9% (2015) 2.8% (2005) |
| Exports: | $47,450 (2004 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | copra, chemicals, construction materials |
| Imports: | $61.17 million (2004 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | chemicals, machinery, consumer goods |
| Debt - external: | $3.67 million (2004) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.2 (2015 est.) 89.8 (2014 est.) 89.85 (2013 est.) 90.56 (2012 est.) |
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| Energy | |
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| Communications | |
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| Telephone system: | general assessment: bandwidth is limited and broadband is expensive; mobile subscriber numbers are higher than fixed-line and better suited for islands; good mobile coverage in the capital cities and also reasonable coverage across more remote atolls; new satellite broadband access and speeds (2018) international: country code - 681 |
| Broadcast media: | the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019) |
| Internet country code: | .wf |
| Internet users: | total: 3,450 percent of population: 22.1% (July 2016 est.) |
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| Transportation | |
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| Airports: | 2 (2013) |
| Airports (paved runways): | total 2 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) |
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| Ports and terminals: | major seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu |
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| Military | |
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| Defense is the responsibility of France | |
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| Transnational Issues | |
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| Disputes - International: | none |
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