Wallis and Futuna Islands

The Territory of Wallis and Futuna Islands is an overseas French territory, located in the South Pacific Ocean between Fiji and Samoa. The archipelago comprises the island of Wallis, the island of Futuna, the uninhabited island of Alofi, and 20 other islets. The Wallis Island is the most population island. Mata-Utu is the capital of Wallis and Futuna Islands. French handles the defense responsibilities of the island groups.

HISTORY:- In 1837, French missionaries first settled in the islands, although the Dutch and the British explorers first discovered the Wallis and Futuna Islands. In 1616 and 1767, the Futuna island group and the Wallis island group were discovered by the Dutch and by the British respectively. In 1842, the territory was declared a French protectorate. In 1917, the territory came under control of the Colony of New Caledonia. In 1961, the islands gained the status of an Overseas Territory of France.

GEOGRAPHY:- Wallis and Futuna island group is located at 13 18 S, 176 12 W in the Oceania. The archipelago comprises 274 sq km area, including the Ile Uvea or the Wallis Island, Ile Futuna or the Futuna Island, Ile Alofi, and 20 other islets. The coastline is 129 km long along with the South Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is the Mont Singavi (765 m). The islands are volcanic in origin and formed of low hills.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Wallis and Futuna islands is predominantly tropical.

GOVERNMENT:- Wallis and Futuna Islands are the overseas territory of France. The legal system is based on the French law. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the French President (chief of state), the High Administrator, the President of the Territorial Assembly (head of government), and the Council of the Territory. The French president is represented by the High Administrator. The high administrator is appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior. Both the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly. The Council of the Territory is composed of the three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Territorial Assembly (20 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the court of appeal.

 Lua Kae Tahi, Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche, Rally for the Republic, Socialist Party, Taumu'a Lelei, Union Populaire Locale, and Union Pour la Democratie Francaise are the principal political parties of Wallis and Futuna. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President of France                                                         Nicolas Sarkozy

Administrateur supérieur                                                Richard Didier

President of the Territorial Assembly                              Victor Brial

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- The archipelago is divided into three kingdoms: Alo, Sigave, and Wallis kingdoms.

CULTURE:- Polynesian root is prominent in the culture of the islands. The islands have a rich musical heritage.

ECONOMY:- Subsistence agriculture provides 80% of the total employment of the islands.

GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $60 million; per capita $3,800.

Arable land: 5%.

Agriculture: Breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish.

Labor force: NA.; agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (2001 est.).

Budget:  

Revenues: $29,730

Expenditures: $31,330 (2004)

Public debt: 5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Debt - external: $3.67 million (2004)

Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Industries: Copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber.

Natural resources: Negl.

Exports: $47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities: Copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners: Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2006)

Imports: $61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities: Chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods

Imports - partners: France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2006)

Major trading partners: Italy, Croatia, U.S., Denmark France, Australia, New Zealand (2004).

LANGUAGE:- Wallisian, an indigenous Polynesian language is spoken by 58.9% of the population.

Futunian 30.1%

French 10.8%

Other 0.2% (2003)

CITIES:- The capital city and the largest city of Wallis and Futuna islands is Mata-Utu.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of the archipelago is 16,168. The density of population per sq miter is 153.

Literacy rate: 50% (1969 est.)

RACE:- Polynesian

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 99%

Other 1%

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

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).

Waterways: none.

Ports and harbors: Leava, Mata-Utu.

Airports: 2004 est.).