Wallis and Futuna

Overseas territory of France

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Area

Total area: 274 sq km
Land area: 274 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC

Note: Includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

129 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

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

Terrain

Volcanic origin; low hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m

Natural Resources

Negligible

Land Use

Arable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 20%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 75%

Irrigated Land

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
Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: NA

Note: Both island groups have fringing reefs

PEOPLE

Population

14,659 (July 1996 est.)
14,499 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

1.11% (1996 est.)
1.11% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

24.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
25.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-8.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-8.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

23.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.) 24.92 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 72.76 years (1996 est.), 72.24 years (1995 est.)
Male: 72.16 years (1996 est.), 71.62 years (1995 est.)
Female: 73.4 years (1996 est.), 72.9 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3 children born/woman (1996 est.)
3.11 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
Adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic Divisions

Polynesian

Religions

Roman Catholic

Languages

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1969)

Total population: 50%
Male: 50%
Female: 51%

Labor Force

By occupation:

Agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%
Government 4% (est.)

GOVERNMENT

Names

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

Digraph

Type

Overseas territory of France

Capital

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative Divisions

None (overseas territory of France)

Independence

None (overseas territory of France)

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal System

French legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
Head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele TAUHAVILI (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly

Note: There are three traditional kings with limited powers

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)

Elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11

French Senate

Elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1

French National Assembly

Elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect one deputy

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

Political Parties and Leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG); Taumu'a Lelei

Member of

FZ, SPC

Flag

A 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
Flag of Wallis and Futuna

ECONOMY

Overview

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force .htmng 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. Wallis and Futuna imports food - particularly sugar and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

$2,500 (1995 est.)
$2,000 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Unemployment Rate

Budget

Revenues: $14.04 million (1994 est.), $2.7 million (1983 est.)
Expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.), $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1983 est.)

Exports

$370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
$6.6 million (f.o.b., 1986)

Commodities:

Copra
Handicrafts

Partners:

Imports

$13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)

Commodities:

Foodstuffs
Manufactured goods
Transportation equipment
Fuel
Clothing

Partners:

France
Australia
New Zealand

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 1,200 kW
Production: 1 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Industries

Copra
Handicrafts
Fishing
Lumber

Agriculture

Dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats

Economic Aid

Recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $118 million

Currency

1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Fiscal Year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20km)
Paved: 16 km (on Il Uvea)
Unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)

Inland Waterways

None

Ports

Leava, Mata-Utu

Merchant Marine

Total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000 DWT

Airports

Total: 2
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

340 telephones (1985 est.)

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of France

History
World Atlas

Last updated: 12 november 1997

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