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  Wallis and Futuna  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


Map of Wallis and Futuna

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Wallis and Futuna
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Wallis and Futuna
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: 5%
permanent crops: 25%
other: 70% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
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
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,880 (July 2004 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 births/1,000 population
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2004 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 years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA children born/woman
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
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
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
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
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
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
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
French legal system
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Xavier DE FURST (since 18 January 2005)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since NA 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 NA March 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 NA 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 NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
FZ
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
a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center toward the fly and slightly downward - 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
   Economy    Wallis and Futuna
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% 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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $57.59 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
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
NA
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $17 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
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
$250,000 f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13%
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$300,000 f.o.b. (1999)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 97%, Australia 2%, New Zealand 1%
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
assistance from France
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
XPF
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 105.73 (2003), 126.72 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Wallis and Futuna
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 users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
900 (2002)
   Transportation    Wallis and Futuna
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 134,037 GRT/14,271 DWT
by type: passenger 6
foreign-owned: France 3, Greece 1, Monaco 1, United States 1 (2003 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Wallis and Futuna
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France
   Transnational Issues    Wallis and Futuna
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 27 January, 2005


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