Wallis and Futuna

Airports

2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Highways

100 km on Ile Uvea, 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface on Ile Futuna

Inland waterways

none

Ports

Mata-Utu, Leava

Telecommunications

225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Note

defense is the responsibility of France

Note

The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed by President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined. In the view of the US, the term West Bank describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. However, with respect to negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, it is US policy that a distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the rest of the West Bank.

Agriculture

dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas, and herds of pigs and goats

Budget

revenues $2.7 million; expenditures $2.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1983)

Currency

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural - francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $118 million

Electricity

1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 102.53 (March 1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Exports

negligible commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

NA

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $25 million, per capita $1,500; real growth rate NA% (1991 est.)

Imports

$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Overview

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the 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. Wallis and Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)

Coastline

129 km

Comparative area

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Disputes

none

Environment

both island groups have fringing reefs

Land area

274 km2; includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

Land boundaries

none

Land use

arable land 5%; permanent crops 20%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 75%

Maritime claims

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Note

located 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills

Total area

274 km2

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of France)

Capital

Mata Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Diplomatic representation

as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the US by France

Elections

Territorial Assembly: last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4 French Senate: last held NA September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1 French National Assembly: last held 12 June 1988 (next to be held by NA September 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1

Executive branch

French president, chief administrator; note - there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Flag

the flag of France is used

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

Judicial branch

none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata Utu

Leaders

Chief of State: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981) Head of Government: Chief Administrator Robert POMMIES (since 26 September 1990)

Legal system

French

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)

Long-form name

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands

Member of

FZ, SPC

National holiday

Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)

Suffrage

universal adult at age 18

Type

overseas territory of France

Birth rate

27 births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate

6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Ethnic divisions

almost entirely Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

29 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Labor force

NA

Languages

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Life expectancy at birth

70 years male, 71 years female (1992)

Literacy

50% (male 50%, female 51%) at all ages can read and write (1969)

Nationality

noun - Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders; adjective - Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Net migration rate

8 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Organized labor

NA

Population

17,095 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992)

Religions

largely Roman Catholic

Total fertility rate

3.6 children born/woman (1992)