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Tuvalu

1996 Edition — sovereign

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Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 26 sq km land area: 26 sq km comparative area: 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Coastline [time series]
24 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, all water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities; beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the crown of thorns starfish natural hazards: severe tropical storms are rare international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates [time series]
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
none
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% note: Tuvalu's nine coral atolls have enough soil to grow coconuts and support subsistence agriculture
Location [time series]
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
very low-lying and narrow coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none
Capital [time series]
Funafuti
Constitution [time series]
1 October 1978
Data code [time series]
TV
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994) who was appointed by the queen on recommendation of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993) were elected by and from the members of Parliament cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister
Independence [time series]
1 October 1978 (from UK)
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Judicial branch [time series]
High Court
Legal system [time series]
NA
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Legislative branch (Parliament (Fale I Fono)) [time series]
members elected for four-year terms; elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total) independents 12
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type of government) [time series]
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
the US does not have an embassy in
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 36% (male 1,865; female 1,798) 15-64 years: 59% (male 2,831; female 3,162) 65 years and over: 5% (male 227; female 263) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
23.95 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
Polynesian 96%
Infant mortality rate [time series]
27.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
Tuvaluan, English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 63.34 years male: 62.15 years female: 64.59 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan
Net migration rate [time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
10,146 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.51% (1996 est.)
Religions [time series]
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.11 children born/woman (1996 est.)