Wallis and Futuna
Introduction Wallis and Futuna
------------------------------
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.
Geography Wallis and Futuna
---------------------------
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
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis
Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
water: 0 sq km
land: 274 sq km
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%
other: 75% (1998 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
People Wallis and Futuna
------------------------
Population: 15,585 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: NA (2002 est.)
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/ NA
AIDS:
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.)
Government Wallis and Futuna
----------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of
the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and
Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles
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 at the second order
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 Alain WAQUET (since 12
July 2000)
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
note: there are three traditional
kings with limited powers
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
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 May-NA June
2002)
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 2002); results - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats - RPR 1
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - RPR
14, other 6
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 NA
leaders:
International organization FZ, SPC
participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the none (overseas territory of France)
US:
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
Economy Wallis and Futuna
-------------------------
Economy - overview: 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: 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 lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing
80%, government 4% (2001 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%
other: NA%
nuclear: 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 - 135.04
(January 2002), 133.26 (2001),
129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25
(1998), 106.11 (1997); note - linked
at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the
euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Wallis and Futuna
--------------------------------
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
Transportation Wallis and Futuna
--------------------------------
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 71,868 GRT/7,422 DWT
ships by type: passenger 4
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 3, United States
1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Military Wallis and Futuna
--------------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
France
Transnational Issues Wallis and Futuna
--------------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
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