Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna

Introduction

Background

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, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.

Geography

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: 142 sq km
country comparison to the world: 220 land:142 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

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 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 (on Futuna) 765 m

Natural resources

NEGL

Land use

arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops:35.71%
other:57.15% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

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 freshwater resources

Geography – note

both island groups have fringing reefs

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

Languages

Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Population

15,398 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 2,018/female 1,846)
15-64 years:67.1% (male 5,191/female 5,137)
65 years and over:7.8% (male 563/female 643) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 28.5 years
male:27.5 years
female:29.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.357% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Birth rate

13.96 births/1,000 population NA (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Death rate

4.68 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Net migration rate

-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 197 note:there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2011 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.85 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 187 male:4.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.98 years
country comparison to the world: 42 male:76 years
female:82.11 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Drinking water source

improved:
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
rural: 96% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
rural: 4% of population
total: 4% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

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

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

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

none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system

French civil law

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)

represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)
head of government:President of the Territorial Assembly Victor BRIAL (since 11 December 2007)
cabinet:Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )note:there are 3 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 elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 1 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – UMP 13, other 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 on 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014)

results – percent of vote by party – NA

seats – UMP 1

French National Assembly – elections last held on 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012)

results – percent of vote by party – NA

seats – PS 1

Judicial branch

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

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)

Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG

Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP)

Socialist Party or PS

Taumu’a Lelei

Union Populaire Locale or UPL

Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description

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
note:the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries

the flag of France used for official occasions

National symbol(s)

red saltire (Saint Andrew’s Cross) on a white square on a red field

National anthem

note: as a territory of France, “La Marseillaise” is official (see France)

Economy

Economy – overview

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)

$60 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP – real growth rate

NA%

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%

Labor force

3,104 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 222

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 80%
industry:4%
services:16% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.2% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 150

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $29,730
expenditures:$31,330 (2004)

Public debt

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 97

Agriculture – products

coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas

pigs, goats

fish

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

NA kWh

Electricity – consumption

NA kWh

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2002)

Exports

$47,450 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 221

Exports – commodities

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Imports

$61.17 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 216

Imports – commodities

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

Debt – external

$3.67 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 197

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
87.59 (2007)
94.97 (2006)
95.89 (2005)
96.04 (2004)
105.66 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

2 (2010)
country comparison to the world:209

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 8
country comparison to the world: 122 by type:chemical tanker 2, passenger 6
foreign-owned:8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Leava, Mata-Utu

Military

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,376
females age 16-49:3,314 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 168
female:139 (2010 est.)

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none