| Wallis and Futuna (overseas territory of France) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Wallis and Futuna | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, 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.

Wallis and Futuna | Geography | Top of Page

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

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | 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: | 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 129 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 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: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

Natural resources: | NEGL

Land use: | arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

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 fresh water resources

Geography - note: | both island groups have fringing reefs

Wallis and Futuna | People | Top of Page

Population: | 15,435 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%

Population growth rate: | NA%

Birth rate: | NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: | NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: | NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Total fertility rate: | NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups: | Polynesian

Religions: | Roman Catholic 100%

Languages: | French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)

Wallis and Futuna | Government | Top of Page

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: | NA

Capital: | Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

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 named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Independence: | none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday: | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution: | 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: | French legal system

Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: | chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Christian DORS (since NA) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Soane UHILA (since NA) 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 seven-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: | unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 14, other 6 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 NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by NA March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1

Judicial branch: | none; 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) [leader NA]; Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG [leader NA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA

International organization participation: | FZ, SPC

Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description: | a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Wallis and Futuna | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood 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 - $30 million (1997 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: | NA%

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA%

Labor force: | NA

Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

Unemployment rate: | NA%

Budget: | revenues: $20 million expenditures: $17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industries: | copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | NA kWh

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Agriculture - products: | breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Exports: | $250,000 (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities: | copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners: | Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13%

Imports: | $300,000 (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities: | chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods

Imports - partners: | France 97%, Australia 2%, New Zealand 1%

Debt - external: | $NA

Economic aid - recipient: | assistance from France

Currency: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code: | XPF

Exchange rates: | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 1127.11 (January 2001), 129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996); note - linked at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Fiscal year: | calendar year

Wallis and Futuna | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,125 (1994)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 0 (1994)

Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios: | NA

Television broadcast stations: | 2 (2000)

Televisions: | NA

Internet country code: | .wf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Wallis and Futuna | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km) paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | Leava, Mata-Utu

Merchant marine: | total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,853 GRT/43,128 DWT ships by type: passenger 3, petroleum tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: France 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: | 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Wallis and Futuna | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France

Wallis and Futuna | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none