Fun Easy English - Travel abroad Tuvalu.

OFFICIAL NAME: Tuvalu

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION

Tuvalu is a South Pacific island nation consisting of four reef islands and five atolls. A self‑governing member of the British Commonwealth, Tuvalu has a parliamentary system of government.

GEOGRAPHY

The Western Pacific nation of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is situated 4,000 kilometer (2,486 mi.) northeast of Australia. It is half-way from Hawaii to Australia. Tuvalu consists of four reef islands and five true atolls, with poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 sq. km. (10 sq. mi.).

Tuvalu has westerly gales and heavy rain from November to March and tropical temperatures moderated by easterly winds from March-November. The land is very low lying with narrow coral atolls. The highest elevation is five meters above sea level.

PEOPLE

96% of Tuvaluans are ethnic Polynesians, closely related to the people of Samoa and Tonga. The vast majority belong to the Church of Tuvalu, a Protestant denomination. Conversion began in the 1860s with the arrival of a Congregationalist missionary from the Cook Islands.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

A passport, onward/return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds for the stay in Tuvalu are required. Visitor permits valid for up to three months are issued upon arrival. For further information about entry requirements, travelers may wish to contact the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Suite 400 B, 800 2nd Avenue, NY 10017, tel: (212) 490-0534, fax: (212) 808-4975. This is particularly true for those persons planning to enter by sea.

QUICK FACTS

Geography
Area: 26 sq. km.
Capital: Funafuti.
Terrain: Very low lying and narrow coral atolls.
Climate: Tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March-November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November-March).

People
Nationality: Noun--Tuvaluan (s); adjective--Tuvaluan.
Population (2006 est.): 10,000. Age structure (2004 est.)--36% under 14; 6% over 65.
Growth rate (2004 est.): 1.44%.
Ethnic groups: Polynesians 96%, Micronesians 4%.
Religion: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%; Seventh-day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'I 1%, other 0.6%.
Languages: Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui) also spoken.
Education (2004): Literacy--95%.
Health (2004): Life expectancy--total 61.5 yrs.; male 61 yrs; female 62. Infant mortality rate (2004)--36/1,000.
Work force (2004 est.): total 6,000; formal sector 2,400.

Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.
Independence (from U.K.): October 1, 1978.
Constitution: October 1, 1978.
Branches: Executive--Governor General is appointed by the British monarch on recommendation of the Prime Minister, who is head of the government. Legislative--unicameral Parliament, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year term). Judicial--High Court with eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction). Rulings from High Court can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji.
Major political parties: None.

Economy (all figures in U.S. $)
GDP (2005 est.): $20 million.
GDP per capita (2005 est.): $2,000.
Industry: Types--fishing, tourism (government and NGO officials on business), copra.
Trade: Exports (2005 est.)--$61,400; stamps, copra, handicrafts. Major markets--Fiji, Australia, New Zealand. Imports (2005 est.)--$12.9 million; prepared foodstuffs, mineral products, machinery, animals and animal products. Major sources--Australia, Fiji, Singapore, New Zealand.
Currency: Australian dollar (A$).

USEFUL LINKS

U.S. Government