Tuvalu

Facts & Figures

Map of Tuvalu

Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952)

Governor-General: Iakoba Italeli (2010)

Prime Minister: Willy Telavi (2010)

Total area: 10 sq mi (26 sq km)

Population (2012 est.): 10,619 (growth rate: 0.6%); birth rate: 23.35/1000; infant mortality rate: 33.5/1000; life expectancy: 65.11; density per sq mi: 1,142

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Funafuti, 5,300

Monetary unit: Australian dollar

More Facts & Figures

Index

Tuvalu Main Page
One of the Smallest Countries Gets Smaller

Geography

Tuvalu consists of nine small islands scattered over 500,000 sq mi of the western Pacific, just south of the equator. The islands include Niulakita, Nukulaelae, Funafuti, Nukufetau, Vaitupu, Nui, Niutao, Nanumaga (Nanumanga), and Nanumea.

Government

Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.

History

Formerly the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu's first Polynesian settlers were probably Samoans or Tongans. The Ellice Islands became a British protectorate in 1892 and were annexed by Britain in 1915–1916 as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. The Ellice Islands were separated from the Gilberts in 1975, given home rule, and renamed Tuvalu. Full independence was granted on Sept. 30, 1978, but Tuvalu remained part of the Commonwealth. In 1979, the U.S. gave Tuvalu four islands that had been U.S. territory.

In 1997, the government adopted a strong stance on the need to control emissions of greenhouse gases in order to ensure the survival of low-lying island nations, which are threatened by rising sea levels—Tuvalu's highest point is just 16 ft above sea level. In 2000, Tuvalu became a member of the United Nations. Tuvalu reportedly makes millions of dollars each year by leasing its highly marketable .tv Internet domain.