The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.

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

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Oceania

total: 142 sq km
country comparison to the world: 221
land: 142 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

129 km

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

volcanic origin; low hills

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m

NEGL

arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2011)

NA

NA

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

both island groups have fringing reefs

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

Polynesian

Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

15,507 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224

0-14 years: 24.1% (male 1,952/female 1,786)
15-24 years: 18.1% (male 1,468/female 1,338)
25-54 years: 40.3% (male 3,089/female 3,163)
55-64 years: 8.9% (male 711/female 674)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 625/female 701) (2013 est.)

total: 29.6 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 30.9 years (2013 est.)

0.35% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

13.74 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

4.84 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

-5.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 194
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2013 est.)

urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

total: 4.55 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 187
male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 79.27 years
country comparison to the world: 44
male: 76.29 years
female: 82.4 years (2013 est.)

1.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

NA

NA

NA

NA

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

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

overseas territory of France

parliamentary representive democratic French overseas collectivity

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)

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

none (overseas territory of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

4 October 1958 (French Constitution) (2013)

French civil law

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012); represented by High Administrator Michel JEANJEAN (since 10 June 2010)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Vetelino NAU (since 4 April 2012)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly

note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator 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 the members of the assembly

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 4, UMP 4, centrists, 3, other 9
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - elections last held on 17 June 2012 (next to be held by 2017); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1

highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel, located in Noumea, New Caledonia
judge selection and term of office: NA
subordinate courts: note: 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

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)

NA

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

none (overseas territory of France)

none (overseas territory of France)

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

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field

note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 80% of labor force earnings 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.

$60 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223

$NA

NA%

$3,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

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

coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

NA%

3,104 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 226

agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)

12.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 128

NA%

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004 est.)

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
note: offical data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

calendar year

2.8% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 88

$47,450 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 221

copra, chemicals, construction materials

$61.17 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 217

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

$3.67 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 200

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

international: country code - 681

the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)

.wf

2,760 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 157

1,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212

2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 203

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

major seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu

males age 16-49: 3,376
females age 16-49: 3,314 (2010 est.)

male: 168
female: 139 (2010 est.)

defense is the responsibility of France