Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.wf
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
1 (2007)
Internet users [time series]
900 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
1,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
0 (1994)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
2 (2000)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $29,730 expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Debt - external [time series]
$3.67 million (2004)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
assistance from France, $NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings 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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production [time series]
NA kWh
Exchange rates [time series]
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.03 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)
Exports [time series]
$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Exports - partners [time series]
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$60 million (2004 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 (PPP)) [time series]
$3,800 (2004 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities [time series]
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners [time series]
France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.8% (2005)
Labor force [time series]
3,104 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Public debt [time series]
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
15.2% (2003)
Geography
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: Mont 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
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
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 7.14% permanent crops: 35.71% other: 57.15% (2005)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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 at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis
Capital [time series]
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
4 October 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
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 Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Richard DIDIER (since 19 July 2006) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since January 2001) 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 five-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
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (overseas territory of France)
International organization participation [time series]
SPC, UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
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; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Legal system [time series]
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
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 11 March 2002 (next to be held 22 April 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7 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 September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held by in 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR (UMP) 1
National holiday [time series]
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but 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.
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]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Polynesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA male: NA female: NA
Languages [time series]
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
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]
NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2007 est.)
Population [time series]
16,309 (July 2007 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
NA
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 92,346 GRT/98,307 DWT by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6 foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2007)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Leava, Mata-Utu