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Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, See : Flags, Maps
Wallis and Futuna (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction :: Wallis and Futuna
Around 800 B.C., the first settlers arrived on the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are a natural midpoint between Fiji and Samoa. Around A.D. 1500, Tongans invaded Wallis, and a chiefdom system resembling Tonga’s formal hierarchy developed on the island. Tongans attempted to settle Futuna but were repeatedly rebuffed. Samoans settled Futuna in the 1600s, and a slightly less centralized chiefdom system formed. Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to see the islands in 1616, followed intermittently by other Europeans, including British explorer Samuel WALLIS in 1767. French Catholic missionaries were the first Europeans to permanently settle Wallis and Futuna in 1837, and they converted most of the population of both islands by 1846. The missionaries and newly converted King LAVELUA of Uvea on Wallis asked France for a protectorate in 1842 following a local rebellion. France agreed, although the protectorate status would not be ratified until 1887. In 1888, King MUSULAMU of Alo and King TAMOLE of Sigave, both on Futuna, signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate; the Wallis and Futuna protectorate was integrated into the territory of New Caledonia the same year. France renegotiated the terms of the protectorate with the territory’s three kings in 1910, expanding French authority.
Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, until the arrival of Free French and US troops in 1942. In 1959, inhabitants of the islands voted to separate from New Caledonia, becoming a French overseas territory in 1961. Despite the split, a significant Wallisian and Futunan community still lives in New Caledonia. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity. The islands joined the Pacific Islands Forum as an associate member in 2018, two years after France’s other Pacific territories became full members of the organization.
Geography ::Wallis and Futuna
Geography
Location
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
land: 142 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
comparison ranking: total 221
Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 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 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
Terrain
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation
highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Land use
agricultural land: 42.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 41.9% (2018 est.)
other: 15.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0.6 sq km (2020)
Natural hazards
cyclones; tsunamis
Geography - note
both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes
People and Society
Population
total: 15,964
male: 8,201
female: 7,763 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 220; male 220; total 220
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 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 1,643/female 1,511)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 5,535/female 5,247)
65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,023/female 1,005)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 57
youth dependency ratio: 36.6
elderly dependency ratio: 20.4
potential support ratio: 4.9 (2021)
Median age
total: 36.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 35.5 years
female: 37.3 years
comparison ranking: total 92
Population growth rate
0.22% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 174
Birth rate
11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 151
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 153
Net migration rate
-3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 189
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 188
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 81.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.2 years
female: 84.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 45
Total fertility rate
1.71 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 160
Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved: urban: NA
rural: 99.1% of population
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: 0.9% of population
total: 0.9% of population (2020)
Current health expenditure
NA
Physician density
NA
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: 92.9% of population
total: 92.9% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: 7.1% of population
total: 7.1% of population (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
NA
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56% (2023)
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Environment
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; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural productivity
Climate
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
Land use
agricultural land: 42.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 35.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 41.9% (2018 est.)
other: 15.3% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Government
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
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
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status
overseas collectivity of France
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
3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea
Independence
none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Legal system
French civil law
Constitution
history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Citizenship
see France
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Blaise GOURTAY (since 1 August 2023)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022)
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
Legislative branch
legislature name: Territorial Assembly (Assemblée territoriale)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 20 (directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 3/20/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua (2); Mauli fetokoniaki (2); 1 seat each from 16 other lists
note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term
Judicial branch
highest 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 (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
Political parties
Left Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)
Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR
Socialist Party or PS
Taumu'a Lelei
Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
International organization participation
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas collectivity 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 is used for official occasions
National symbol(s)
red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white
National anthem
note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy
Economic overview
lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy; heavily reliant on French subsidies; licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea; major remittances from New Caledonia; aging workforce; import-dependent; deforestation-fueled fragility
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.9% (2015)
(2005)
comparison ranking: 17
Agricultural products
coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Budget
revenues: $32.54 million (2015 est.)
expenditures: $34.18 million (2015 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
16.7% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
comparison ranking: 117
Exports - partners
France 48%, Singapore 12%, US 10%, Guatemala 9%, UK 4% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
integrated circuits, jewelry, cars, aircraft parts, polyacetals (2019)
Imports - partners
Fiji 38%, France 31%, NZ 8%, Iceland 6%, Australia 5% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, beef products, poultry meats, engine parts, packaged medicines (2019)
Exchange rates
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
110.347 (2023 est.)
113.474 (2022 est.)
100.88 (2021 est.)
104.711 (2020 est.)
110.347 (2019 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 3,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 209
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 0 (2018)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2019)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 225
Telecommunication systems
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; broadband satellite launched in 2019 to improve costs and capability (2020)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity 26 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 681; landing point for the Tui-Samoa submarine cable network connecting Wallis & Futuna, Samoa and Fiji (2020)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.wf
Internet users
percent of population: 45.8% (2021 est.)
Transportation
Airports
2 (2024)
comparison ranking: 199
Merchant marine
total: 1 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1
comparison ranking: total 183
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Mata-Utu
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
