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Get A Large Static Flag | Wallis and Futuna |
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Introduction | Wallis and Futuna |
Background:
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Although discovered by Dutch and British in 17th and 18th centuries, it previously French who declared a protectorate over islands in 1842. In 1959, inhabitants of islands voted to become a French overseas territory. |
Geography | Wallis and Futuna |
Location:
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Oceania, islands in South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
Geographic coordinates:
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13 18 S, 176 12 W |
Map references:
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Oceania |
Area:
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total: 274 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets water: 0 sq km land: 274 sq km |
Area - comparative:
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1.5 times size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries:
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0 km |
Coastline:
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129 km |
Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Climate:
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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 |
Terrain:
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volcanic origin; low hills |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m |
Natural resources:
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NEGL |
Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20% other: 75% (1998 est.) |
Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
Natural hazards:
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NA |
Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (only limited portions of original forests remain) largely as a result of continued use of wood as main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down forests, mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of lack of natural fresh water resources |
Geography - note:
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both island groups have fringing reefs |
People | Wallis and Futuna |
Total Population:
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15,734 (July 2003 est.) |
Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
Population growth rate:
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NA (2003 est.) |
Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2003 est.) |
Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
Life Expectancy:
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Population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
Nationality:
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noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander |
Ethnic groups:
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Polynesian |
Religions:
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Roman Catholic 99%, other 1% |
Languages:
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French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) |
Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.) |
Government | Wallis and Futuna |
Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna |
Dependency status:
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overseas territory of France |
Government type:
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NA |
Capital:
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Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) |
Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by US Government, but there are three kingdoms at second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis |
Independence:
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none (overseas territory of France) |
National holiday:
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Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
Constitution:
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28 September 1958 (French Constitution) |
Legal system:
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French legal system |
Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Christian JOB (since 6 August 2002)
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator appointed by French president on advice of French Ministry of Interior; presidents of Territorial Government and Territorial Assembly are elected by members of assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers head of government: President of Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since NA January 2001) cabinet: Council of Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by high administrator on advice of Territorial Assembly |
Legislative branch:
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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 NA March 2007) note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to French Senate and one deputy to French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA 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 NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats - RPR (UMP) 1 election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7 |
Judicial branch:
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none; justice generally administered under French law by high administrator, but three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu |
Political parties and leaders:
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Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) [leader NA]; Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG [leader NA]; Rally for Republic or RPR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA] |
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
International organization participation:
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FZ, SPC |
Diplomatic representation in US:
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none (overseas territory of France) |
Diplomatic representation from US:
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none (overseas territory of France) |
Flag description:
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a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center toward fly and slightly downward - on a red background; flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in upper hoist quadrant; flag of France is used for official occasions |
Economy | Wallis and Futuna |
Economy - overview:
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economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of 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. |
GDP:
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buying power parity - $30 million (2000 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
GDP - per capita:
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buying power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA% |
Labor force:
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NA |
Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (2001 est.) |
Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
Budget:
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revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $17 million, includes capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) |
Industries:
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copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber |
Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0% other: 0% nuclear: 0% |
Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
Agriculture - products:
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breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats |
Exports:
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$250,000 f.o.b. (1999) |
Exports - commodities:
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copra, chemicals, construction materials |
Exports - partners:
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Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% |
Imports:
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$300,000 f.o.b. (1999) |
Imports - commodities:
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chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods |
Imports - partners:
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France 97%, Australia 2%, New Zealand 1% |
Debt - external:
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$NA |
Economic aid - recipient:
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assistance from France |
Currency:
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Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt euro in 2003 |
Currency code:
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XPF |
Exchange rates:
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Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998) |
Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
Communications | Wallis and Futuna |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,125 (1994) |
Telephones - mobile cellular:
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0 (1994) |
Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: NA |
Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000) |
Radios:
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NA |
Television broadcast stations:
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2 (2000) |
Televisions:
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NA |
Internet country code:
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.wf |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2000) |
Internet users:
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NA |
Transportation | Wallis and Futuna |
Railways:
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0 km |
Highways:
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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) |
Waterways:
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none |
Ports and harbors:
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Leava, Mata-Utu |
Merchant marine:
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total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 85,572 GRT/9,004 DWT
ships by type: passenger 4 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: France 3, US 1 (2002 est.) |
Airports:
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2 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
Military | Wallis and Futuna |
Military - note:
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defense is responsibility of France |
Transnational Issues | Wallis and Futuna |
Disputes - international:
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none |