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 this status in July 1961.
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
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
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m
NEGL
agricultural land: 42.8%
arable land 7.1%; permanent crops 35.7%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 41.9%
other: 15.3% (2011 est.)
0 sq km (2012)
NA
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
both island groups have fringing reefs
Polynesian
15,664 (July 2016 est.)
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
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: 22.25% (male 1,819/female 1,667)
15-24 years: 16.9% (male 1,395/female 1,252)
25-54 years: 41.52% (male 3,266/female 3,237)
55-64 years: 9.7% (male 746/female 773)
65 years and over: 9.63% (male 721/female 788) (2016 est.)
13.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
total: 31.6 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 32.8 years (2016 est.)
0.33% (2016 est.)
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2016 est.)
urban population: 0% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
MATA-UTU (capital) 1,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
total population: 79.7 years
male: 76.7 years
female: 82.8 years (2016 est.)
1.74 children born/woman (2016 est.)
improved:
rural: 96% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
rural: 4% of population
total: 4% of population (2008 est.)
NA
NA
NA
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
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 territory 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 territory of France)
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
French civil law
see France
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Marcel RENOUF (since 26 January 2015)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele KULIMOETOKE (since 26 November 2014)
cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the high administrator 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); 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 elected by assembly members
note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
description: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms)
note: Wallis and Futuna elects 1 senator to the French Senate and 1 deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - by-election last held on 24 March 2013 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - independent (backed by UMP) 1
elections: last held on 22 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4, UMP 4, centrist, 3, other 9
highest resident court(s): 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, located 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
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
NA
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
none (overseas territory of France)
none (overseas territory 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)
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 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 sect
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 healthcare and education services.
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
NA%
$60 million (2004 est.)
$NA
NA%
$3,800 (2004 est.)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
NA%
3,104 (2003)
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)
12.2% (2008 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
NA%
NA%
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
note: offical data; data cover general government debt, and includes 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
calendar year
2.8% (2005)
$47,450 (2004 est.)
copra, chemicals, construction materials
$61.17 million (2004)
chemicals, machinery, consumer goods
$3.67 million (2004)
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
89.85 (2013 est.)
90.56 (2012 est.)
85.74 (2011 est.)
total subscriptions: 3,132
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (July 2014 est.)
international: country code - 681
the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)
.wf
total: 3,450
percent of population: 22.1% (July 2015 est.)
2 (2013)
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
major seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu
defense is the responsibility of France
none
