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Wallis and Futuna (overseas territory of France) |
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Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues Print This Frame Airports Hotels
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| Wallis and Futuna | Introduction | Top of Page |
| 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. |
| Wallis and Futuna | Geography | Top of Page |
| 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
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: | 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 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 |
| Wallis and Futuna | People | Top of Page |
| Population: | 15,435 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years:
NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
| Population growth rate: | NA% |
| 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/AIDS: | NA |
| 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.) |
| Wallis and Futuna | Government | Top of Page |
| 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: | 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 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 Christian DORS (since NA)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Soane UHILA (since NA) 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 seven-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: |
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 March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 14, other 6 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 March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1 |
| 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 leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | FZ, SPC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (overseas territory of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (overseas territory of France) |
| 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 |
| Wallis and Futuna | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood 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 percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA% |
| Labor force: | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (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% nuclear: NA% other: 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 - 1127.11 (January 2001), 129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996); note - linked at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| Wallis and Futuna | Communications | Top of Page |
| 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 |
| Wallis and Futuna | Transportation | Top of Page |
| 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 48,853 GRT/43,128 DWT
ships by type: passenger 3, petroleum tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: France 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: | 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Wallis and Futuna | Military | Top of Page |
| Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France |
| Wallis and Futuna | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | none |