Tuvalu

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media

no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from international broadcasters (2019)

Internet country code

.tv

Internet users

total: 5,498 | percent of population: 49.32% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: internal communications needs met; small global scale of over 11,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration about 40% and broadband about 10% penetration; govt. owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; 2G widespread; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 satellite will improve the telecommunication sector for the Asia Pacific region (2020) | domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands; fixed-line 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular 70 per 100 (2019) | international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,978 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17.59 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 7,911 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70.36 (2019 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts; fish

Budget

revenues: 42.68 million (2013 est.) | expenditures: 32.46 million (2012 est.) | note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Current account balance

$2 million (2017 est.) | $8 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Economic overview

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly of food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, which pose significant challenges to development. The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are a significant source of government revenue. In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP. Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, has grown to $104 million (A$141 million) in 2014 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. While remittances are another substantial source of income, the value of remittances has declined since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but has stabilized at nearly $4 million per year. The financial impact of climate change and the cost of climate related adaptation projects is one of many concerns for the nation.

Exchange rates

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.311 (2017 est.) | 1.3442 (2016 est.)

Exports

$600,000 (2010 est.) | $1 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copra, fish

Exports - partners

US 18.2%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 17%, Fiji 14.8%, Nigeria 14.2%, Germany 8.2%, South Africa 5.9%, Colombia 5.1% (2017)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40 million (2017 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real

$42 million (2017 est.) | $40.68 million (2016 est.) | $39.48 million (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

government consumption: 87% (2016 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2016 est.) | exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2016 est.) | imports of goods and services: -66.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.) | industry: 5.6% (2012 est.) | services: 70% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2017 est.) | $3,700 (2016 est.) | $3,600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP real growth rate

3.2% (2017 est.) | 3% (2016 est.) | 9.1% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports

$20.69 billion (2018 est.) | $19.09 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Singapore 33.4%, South Korea 11.5%, Australia 10.8%, NZ 8%, Fiji 7.5%, Chile 6.1%, South Africa 5%, Japan 5% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate

-26.1% (2012 est.)

Industries

fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (2017 est.) | 3.5% (2016 est.)

Labor force

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Population below poverty line

26.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt

37% of GDP (2017 est.) | 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.) | note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Unemployment rate

NA

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5,100 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

11.8 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Area

total: 26 sq km | land: 26 sq km | water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Tuvalu Print Image Description 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Coastline

24 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 2 m | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Environment - current issues

water needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; rising sea levels threaten water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Geography - note

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 60% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 60% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 33.3% (2011 est.) | other: 6.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Natural resources

fish, coconut (copra)

Population distribution

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Terrain

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Administrative divisions

7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu

Capital

name: Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet | geographic coordinates: 8 31 S, 179 13 E | time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: the atoll is named after a founding ancestor chief, Funa, from the island of Samoa

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent only: yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: na

Constitution

history: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986 | amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading; amended 2007, 2010, 2013

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Tuvalu | local long form: none | local short form: Tuvalu | former: Ellice Islands | etymology: "tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017); address: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534; FAX: [1] (212) 808-4975

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010) | head of government: Prime Minister Kausea NATANO (since 19 September 2019) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections | election results: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6

Flag description

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 October 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment | subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (16 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 9 September 2019 (next to be held on September 2023) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16 (9 members reelected)

National anthem

name: "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty) | lyrics/music: Afaese MANOA | note: adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

National symbol(s)

maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow

Political parties and leaders

there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period. The agreement was subsequently renegotiated but details were not disclosed. Tuvalu hosted the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.42% (male 1,711/female 1,626) | 15-24 years: 17.61% (male 1,031/female 966) | 25-54 years: 37.17% (male 2,157/female 2,059) | 55-64 years: 9.12% (male 427/female 607) | 65 years and over: 6.68% (male 289/female 469) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Tuvalu Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Tuvalu. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate

23.4 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

17.1% (2017)

Death rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population | rural: 98.8% of population | total: 99% of population | unimproved: urban: 0% of population | rural: 1.2% of population | total: 1% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Tuvaluan 86.8%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 5.6%, Tuvaluan/other 6.7%, other 0.9% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 26.6 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 28.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages

Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.9 years | male: 65.6 years | female: 70.2 years (2020 est.)

Major urban areas - population

7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)

Median age

total: 26.6 years | male: 25.6 years | female: 27.6 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Tuvaluan(s) | adjective: Tuvaluan

Net migration rate

-6.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

51.6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.91 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

11,342 (July 2020 est.)

Population distribution

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Population growth rate

0.87% (2020 est.)

Religions

Protestant 92.4% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.7%, Brethren 3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.8%, Assemblies of God .9%), Baha'i 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Mormon 1%, other 3.1%, none 0.2% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 91.8% of population | rural: 91% of population | total: 91.5% of population | unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population | rural: 9% of population | total: 8.5% of population (2017 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.88 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20.6% | male: 9.8% | female: 45.9% (2016)

Urbanization

urban population: 64% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

T2 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 243 | by type: bulk carrier 20, container ship 3, general cargo 39, oil tanker 24, other 157 (2019)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Funafuti

Roadways

total: 8 km (2011) | paved: 8 km (2011)