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Appendices

Australia-Oceania :: Wallis and Futuna

(overseas collectivity of France)

page last updated on November 10, 2011

(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)

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Introduction ::Wallis and Futuna

Geography ::Wallis and Futuna

Location:

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 142 sq km

country comparison to the world: 220

land: 142 sq km

water: 0 sq km

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

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

129 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

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:

volcanic origin; low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 7.14%

permanent crops: 35.71%

other: 57.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

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

Geography - note:

both island groups have fringing reefs

People and Society ::Wallis and Futuna

Nationality:

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

adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian

Languages:

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

Religions:

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Population:

15,398 (July 2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 221

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 2,018/female 1,846)

15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,191/female 5,137)

65 years and over: 7.8% (male 563/female 643) (2011 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.5 years

male: 27.5 years

female: 29.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.357% (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

Birth rate:

13.96 births/1,000 population NA (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

Death rate:

4.68 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 196

Net migration rate:

-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population

country comparison to the world: 197

note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2011 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 0% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.048 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 187

male: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.98 years

country comparison to the world: 42

male: 76 years

female: 82.11 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.81 children born/woman (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

Drinking water source:

improved:

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

rural: 96% of population

total: 96% of population

unimproved:

rural: 4% of population

total: 4% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Education expenditures:

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 50%

male: 50%

female: 50% (1969 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

Government ::Wallis and Futuna

Country name:

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:

overseas territory of France

Government type:

Capital:

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)

Administrative divisions:

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

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French civil law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)

head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor BRIAL (since 11 December 2007)

cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

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note: there are 3 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 elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 1 April 2007 (next to be held in April 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, other 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 on 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - elections last held on 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP); Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei; Union Populaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

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 used for official occasions

National symbol(s):

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field

National anthem:

note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)