Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 1,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from international broadcasters (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.tv

Internet users [time series]

total: 5,042 | percent of population: 46% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications; small global scale of 10,000 people on 9 inhabited islands; mobile subscriber penetration at 40% and broadband at 10% penetration; govt owned and sole provider of telecommunications services; satellite technology; hopeful future 5-year contract to improve high speed Internet for schools, hospitals and banks; 3G not launched yet (2018) | domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands; fixed-line 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular 69 per 100 (2018) | international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 2,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 7,600 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (July 2016 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: 42.68 million (2013 est.) | expenditures: 32.46 million (2012 est.) | note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.6% (31 December 2013 est.) | 10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$2 million (2017 est.) | $8 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly of food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, which pose significant challenges to development. The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are a significant source of government revenue. In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP. Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, has grown to $104 million (A$141 million) in 2014 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. While remittances are another substantial source of income, the value of remittances has declined since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but has stabilized at nearly $4 million per year. The financial impact of climate change and the cost of climate related adaptation projects is one of many concerns for the nation.

Exchange rates [time series]

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.311 (2017 est.) | 1.3442 (2016 est.)

Exports [time series]

$600,000 (2010 est.) | $1 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

copra, fish

Exports - partners [time series]

US 18.2%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 17%, Fiji 14.8%, Nigeria 14.2%, Germany 8.2%, South Africa 5.9%, Colombia 5.1% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$40 million (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$42 million (2017 est.) | $40.68 million (2016 est.) | $39.48 million (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

government consumption: 87% (2016 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2016 est.) | exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2016 est.) | imports of goods and services: -66.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.) | industry: 5.6% (2012 est.) | services: 70% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$3,800 (2017 est.) | $3,700 (2016 est.) | $3,600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3.2% (2017 est.) | 3% (2016 est.) | 9.1% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$20.69 billion (2018 est.) | $19.09 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Singapore 33.4%, South Korea 11.5%, Australia 10.8%, NZ 8%, Fiji 7.5%, Chile 6.1%, South Africa 5%, Japan 5% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-26.1% (2012 est.)

Industries [time series]

fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.1% (2017 est.) | 3.5% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$0 (2014)

Population below poverty line [time series]

26.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

37% of GDP (2017 est.) | 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.) | note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

96% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2014)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

5,100 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

11.8 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 99.4% (2016) | electrification - urban areas: 100% (2016) | electrification - rural areas: 98.5% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2014)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 26 sq km | land: 26 sq km | water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

0.1 times the size of Washington, DC | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Tuvalu Print Image Description 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

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 2 m | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; rising sea levels threaten water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

Irrigated land [time series]

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 60% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 60% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 33.3% (2011 est.) | other: 6.7% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level

Natural resources [time series]

fish, coconut (copra)

Population distribution [time series]

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Terrain [time series]

low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu

Capital [time series]

name: Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet | geographic coordinates: 8 31 S, 179 13 E | time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent only: yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: na

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986 | amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading; amended 2007, 2010, 2013 (2017)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Tuvalu | local long form: none | local short form: Tuvalu | former: Ellice Islands | etymology: "tuvalu" means "group of eight" or "eight standing together" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none; the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy; it is headed by Samuelu LALONIU (since 21 July 2017); address: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017; telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534; FAX: [1] (212) 808-4975

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since 16 April 2010) | head of government: Prime Minister Kausea NATANO (since 19 September 2019) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections | election results: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

1 October 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment | subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (16 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 9 September 2019 (next to be held on September 2023) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16 (9 members reelected)

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty) | lyrics/music: Afaese MANOA | note: adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

National symbol(s) [time series]

maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

there are no political parties but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period. The agreement was subsequently renegotiated but details were not disclosed. Tuvalu will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (2012)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.32% (male 1,675 /female 1,593) | 15-24 years: 18.63% (male 1,078 /female 999) | 25-54 years: 36.91% (male 2,080 /female 2,034) | 55-64 years: 8.86% (male 404 /female 584) | 65 years and over: 6.28% (male 274 /female 426) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Tuvalu Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Tuvalu. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

23.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

15.5% (2016)

Death rate [time series]

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups [time series]

Tuvaluan 86.8%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 5.6%, Tuvaluan/other 6.7%, other 0.9% (2012 est.)

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: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 30.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.2 years (2018 est.) | male: 65 years | female: 69.5 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)

Median age [time series]

total: 26 years (2018 est.) | male: 25 years | female: 27.2 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tuvaluan(s) | adjective: Tuvaluan

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

51.6% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population [time series]

11,147 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

Population growth rate [time series]

0.86% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 92.4% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.7%, Brethren 3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.8%, Assemblies of God .9%), Baha'i 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Mormon 1%, other 3.1%, none 0.2% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 86.3% of population (2012 est.) | rural: 80.2% of population (2012 est.) | total: 83.3% of population (2012 est.) | unimproved: urban: 13.7% of population (2012 est.) | rural: 19.8% of population (2012 est.) | total: 16.7% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.93 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 20.6% | male: 9.8% | female: 45.9% (2016)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 63.2% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

T2 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 254 | by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 1, general cargo 41, oil tanker 25, other 163 (2018)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Funafuti

Roadways [time series]

total: 8 km (2011) | paved: 8 km (2011)