Wallis and Futuna

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of France

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: NA

Telephones

340 (1985 est.)

Television broadcast stations

0

Televisions

NA Defense

Agriculture

yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Budget

revenues: $14.04 million expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

Currency

1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic 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 - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.

Electricity

capacity: 1,200 kW production: 1 million kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc

Exports

$370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP per capita

$2,500 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing partners: France, Australia, New Zealand

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 274 sq km land area: 274 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

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

Coastline

129 km

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 fresh water resources natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Geographic note

both island groups have fringing reefs

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

volcanic origin; low hills lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m

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 named Wallis, Sigave, Alo

Capital

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Constitution

28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Data code

WF

Diplomatic representation in US

none (overseas territory of France)

Executive branch

chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND (since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele TAUHAVILI (since NA) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers

Flag

a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

French National Assembly

elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect one deputy

French Senate

elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1

Independence

none (overseas territory of France)

International organization participation

FZ, SPC

Judicial branch

none; 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

Legal system

French legal system

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

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

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); Taumu'a Lelei

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)

elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11

Type of government

overseas territory of France

US diplomatic representation

none (overseas territory of France)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

24.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

23.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.76 years male: 72.16 years female: 73.4 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1969 est.) total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50%

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-8.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

14,659 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.11% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 100%

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Highways

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)

Merchant marine

total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports

Leava, Mata-Utu

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none