Wallis and Futuna

Airports

2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Highways

100 km on Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface on Ile Futuna (Futuna Island)

Inland waterways

none

Ports

Mata-Utu, Leava

Telecommunications

225 telephones; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Agriculture

dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $118 million

Budget

revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural--francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Electricity

1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1--104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note--linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Exports

$NA; commodities--copra; partners--NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

NA

GDP

$6.7 million, per capita $484; real growth rate NA% (est. 1985)

Imports

$3.4 million (c.i.f., 1977); commodities--largely foodstuffs and some equipment associated with development programs; partners--France, Australia, New Zealand

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Overview

The economy is limited to subsistence agriculture. The majority of the labor force earns its livelihood from agriculture, raising livestock, and fishing, with the rest employed by the government sector. Exports are negligible. The Territory has to import food, fuel, and construction materials, and is dependent on budgetary support from France to meet recurring expenses. The economy also benefits from cash remittances from expatriate workers.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)

Coastline

129 km

Comparative area

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Environment

both island groups have fringing reefs

Extended economic zone

200 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

5% arable land; 20% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other

Natural resources

negligible

Note

located 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Territorial sea

12 nm

Total area

274 km2; land area: 274 km2

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France)

Capital

Mata-Utu

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Diplomatic representation

as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the US by France

Executive branch

French president, high administrator; note--there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Flag

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

Judicial branch

none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); Head of Government--Chief Administrator Roger DUMEC (since 15 July 1988)

Legal system

French

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)

Long-form name

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA Territorial Assembly--last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(20 total) RPR 7, UDF coalition 7, UPL 6; French Senate--last held NA (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) party of the representative is NA; French National Assembly--last held NA (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(1 total) RPR 1

Type

overseas territory of France

Birth rate

28 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

almost entirely Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

32 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Labor force

NA

Language

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Life expectancy at birth

69 years male, 70 years female (1990)

Literacy

NA%

Nationality

noun--Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders; adjective--Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Net migration rate

8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

NA

Population

14,910 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)

Religion

largely Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

3.8 children born/woman (1990)