Background Notes - Wallis and Futuna Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.
Geography Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 274 sq km
land: 274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
129 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
NEGL
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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 fresh water resources
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
both island groups have fringing reefs
People Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16,309 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Polynesian
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of France
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Richard DIDIER (since 19 July 2006)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
note: there are three 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 are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held by in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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; the flag of France is the only official flag
Economy Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 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):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$60 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,104 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.2% (2003)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.8% (2005)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
assistance from France, $NA
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.67 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
Communications Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 681
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2000)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.wf
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
900 (2002)
Transportation Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 92,346 GRT/98,307 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6
foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Leava, Mata-Utu
Military Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Wallis and Futuna Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Comments: 0
Votes:35