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Australia - Oceania :: Wallis and Futuna

Page last updated on December 15, 2020

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WALLIS AND FUTUNA

Introduction :: Wallis and Futuna
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, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed that status in 1961. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna's designation changed to that of an overseas collectivity.
Geography :: Wallis and Futuna
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Oceania

total: 142 sq km

land: 142 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

country comparison to the world: 220

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

129 km

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

volcanic origin; low hills

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m

NEGL

agricultural land: 42.8% (2011 est.)

arable land: 7.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 35.7% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)

forest: 41.9% (2011 est.)

other: 15.3% (2011 est.)

0 sq km (2012)

cyclones; tsunamis

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 freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural producitivity

both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes
People and Society :: Wallis and Futuna
15,854 (July 2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220

noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders

adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Polynesian

Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

0-14 years: 20.58% (male 1,702/female 1,561)

15-24 years: 14.72% (male 1,238/female 1,095)

25-54 years: 43.55% (male 3,529/female 3,376)

55-64 years: 9.92% (male 742/female 830)

65 years and over: 11.23% (male 856/female 925) (2020 est.)

population pyramid:

The World Factbook Field Image Modal

Australia - Oceania :: Wallis and Futuna Print

Image Description

This is the population pyramid for Wallis and Futuna. 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.

total: 34 years

male: 33.1 years

female: 35.1 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

0.28% (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 173

12.7 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 178

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia

country comparison to the world: 191

urban population: 0% of total population (2020)

rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 188

total population: 80.2 years

male: 77.2 years

female: 83.4 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

1.71 children born/woman (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 171

improved: rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2017)

improved: rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

NA

NA

NA

degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria

NA
Government :: Wallis and Futuna
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

former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands

etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island

overseas collectivity of France

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

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)

3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply

French civil law

see France

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Herve JONATHAN (since 25 November 2020)

head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly David VERGE (since 4 April 2017)

cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

elections/appointments: French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior 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 elected by assembly members

note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers

description: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats - Wallis 13, Futuna 7; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
Wallis and Futuna indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term, and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote for a 5-year term

elections: Territorial Assembly - last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2022)
French Senate - last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2020)
French National Assembly - last held on 11 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022)

election results: Territorial Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 2 members are elected from the list Fia gaue fakatahi kihe kaha'u e lelei and 1 each from 18 other lists; composition - men 14, women 6, percent of women 30%
French Senate - LR 1
French National Assembly - independent 1

highest courts: Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia)

judge selection and term of office: NA

subordinate courts: courts of first instance; labor court; note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Left Radical Party or PRG [Guillaume LACROIX] (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) (leader NA)
Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]
Socialist Party or PS
Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]
Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

none (overseas collectivity of France)

none (overseas collectivity of France)

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

note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white

note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy :: Wallis and Futuna
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. However, roughly 70% of the labor force is employed in the public sector, although only about a third of the population is in salaried employment.
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. France directly finances the public sector and health-care and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and health-care facilities.
A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live on the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government.

NA

0.9% (2015)

2.8% (2005)

country comparison to the world: 63

$60 million (2004 est.)

$195 million (2005) (2005)

$3,800 (2004 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

agriculture: NA

industry: NA

services: NA

household consumption: 26% (2005)

government consumption: 54% (2005)

coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

NA

4,482 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 222

agriculture: 74%

industry: 3%

services: 23% (2015 est.)

8.8% (2013 est.)

12.2% (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

NA

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

revenues: 32.54 million NA (2015 est.)

expenditures: 34.18 million NA (2015 est.)

16.7% (of GDP) NA (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

-0.8% (of GDP) NA (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

note: offical data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

country comparison to the world: 204

calendar year

$47,450 (2004 est.)

country comparison to the world: 223

copra, chemicals, construction materials

$61.17 million (2004 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

$3.67 million (2004)

country comparison to the world: 201

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

110.2 (2015 est.)

89.8 (2014 est.)

89.85 (2013 est.)

90.56 (2012 est.)
Communications :: Wallis and Futuna
total subscriptions: 4,012

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25.38 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 207

general assessment: 2G widespread; bandwidth is limited; mobile subscriber numbers are higher than fixed-line and better suited for islands; good mobile coverage in the capital cities and also reasonable coverage across more remote atolls; recent international interest in infrastructure development; increase in demand for mobile broadband as mobile services serve as primary source for Internet access; Kacific-1 broadband satellite launched in 2019 to improve costs and capability (2020)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity 25 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 681; landing point for the Tui-Samoa submarine cable network connecting Wallis & Futuna, Samoa and Fiji (2020)

note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019)

.wf

total: 3,450

percent of population: 22.1% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 220
Transportation :: Wallis and Futuna
2 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 207

total: 2 (2019)

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

major seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu
Military and Security :: Wallis and Futuna
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues :: Wallis and Futuna
none