ARCHIVE // WF // 1997
Wallis and Futuna
1997 Edition — territory
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
domestic : NA international: NA
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
340 (1985 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
0
Televisions
[time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $17 million expenditures : $17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Debt - external
[time series]
$NA
Economic aid
[time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
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. Wallis and Futuna imports food - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
Electricity - capacity
[time series]
NA kW
Electricity - consumption per capita
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production
[time series]
NA kWh
Exchange rates
[time series]
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 98.48 (January 1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Exports
[time series]
total value: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Imports
[time series]
total value: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing partners : France, Australia, New Zealand
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
(Inflation rate - consumer price index)
[time series]
NA%
Labor force
[time series]
NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
NA%
Geography
Area
[time series]
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
[time series]
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
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
Coastline
[time series]
129 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : Mount Singavi 765 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
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
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
13 18 S, 176 12 W
Geography - note
[time series]
both island groups have fringing reefs
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land : 5% permanent crops: 20% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
[time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims
[time series]
exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
NA
Natural resources
[time series]
NEGL
Terrain
[time series]
volcanic origin; low hills
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Constitution
[time series]
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name
[time series]
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
Data code
[time series]
WF
Dependency status
[time series]
overseas territory of France
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state : President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Keleto LAKALAKA (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: high administrator appointed by the president of France 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
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government type
[time series]
NA
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
International organization participation
[time series]
FZ, SPC
Judicial branch
[time series]
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
Legal system
[time series]
French legal system
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11 note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; 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 1993 (next to be held by 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1
Capital
(National capital)
[time series]
Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Rally for the Republic or RPR; Union Populaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF; Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Taumu'a Lelei
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Current issues
[time series]
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations which began on 5 May 1996.
Military
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of France
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over : NA
Birth rate
[time series]
23.7 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Polynesian
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
22.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
[time series]
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 73.29 years male : 72.7 years female: 73.9 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Net migration rate
[time series]
-7.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Population
[time series]
14,817 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.08% (1997 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 100%
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth : NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.89 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none WEST BANK
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
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)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,060 GRT/40,406 DWT (1996 est.)
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Leava, Mata-Utu
Railways
[time series]
0 km
Waterways
[time series]
none