CapitalFunafuti
Population11,824
Area26 km²
GDP per capita$5,800
LanguagesOfficial languages include Tuvaluan and English, along with Samoan and Kiribati
CurrencyTuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars
Life Expectancy69.0 yr
Governmenta parliamentary democracy functioning under a constitutional monarchy; part of the Commonwealth realm
Introduction
Background
Voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga first populated Tuvalu in the first millennium A.D., and the islands provided a stepping-stone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence, although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships visited the islands, which were named the Ellice Islands in 1819.
The UK declared a protectorate over islands in 1892 and merged them with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate became a colony in 1916. During World War II, the US set up military bases on a few islands, and in 1943, after Japan captured many of the northern Gilbert Islands, the UK transferred administration of the colony southward to Funafuti. After the war, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands was once again made the colony’s capital, and the center of power was firmly in the Gilbert Islands, including the colony’s only secondary school. Amid growing tensions with the Gilbertese, Tuvaluans voted to secede from the colony in 1974, were granted self-rule in 1975, and gained independence in 1978 as Tuvalu. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims to the Tuvaluan islands in a treaty of friendship.
Geography
Area
land
26 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
26 sq km
Climate
tropical; influenced by easterly trade winds from March to November; experiences westerly gales and substantial rainfall from November to March
Terrain
low-lying, slender coral atolls
Land use
other
5.7% (2023 est.)
forest
34.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
60% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Location
Oceania, a group of nine coral atolls located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately midway between Hawaii and Australia
Coastline
24 km
Elevation
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed location 5 m
mean elevation
2 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
while severe tropical storms are generally uncommon, three cyclones occurred in 1997; the islands' low elevation renders them vulnerable to sea level fluctuations
Geography - note
among the smallest and most isolated nations globally; six of the nine coral atolls -- Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae -- feature lagoons that are accessible to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao contain landlocked lagoons; Niulakita lacks a lagoon
Natural resources
fish, coconut (copra)
Area - comparative
comparable in size to Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
8 00 S, 178 00 E
Population distribution
more than half of the inhabitants live on the atoll of Funafuti
People & Society
Literacy
male
100% (2022 est.)
female
100% (2022 est.)
total population
100% (2022 est.)
Languages
Official languages include Tuvaluan and English, along with Samoan and Kiribati (specifically on Nui Island)
Religions
The religious composition is predominantly Protestant at 92.7% (with the Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu at 85.9%, Brethren at 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist at 2.5%, and Assemblies of God at 1.5%), followed by Baha'i at 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness at 1.5%, other religions at 3.9%, and those identifying as none or refusing to answer at 0.4% (2017 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.57 male(s)/female
Birth rate
21.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
26.8 years
total
28.1 years (2025 est.)
female
28.8 years
Population
male
5,865
total
11,824 (2025 est.)
female
5,959
Nationality
noun
Tuvaluan(s)
adjective
Tuvaluan
Tobacco use
male
46.2% (2025 est.)
total
32.4% (2025 est.)
female
18.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
66.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
29.2% (male 1,754/female 1,672)
15-64 years
63.2% (male 3,736/female 3,675)
65 years and over
7.6% (2024 est.) (male 326/female 570)
Ethnic groups
Ethnic composition consists of 97% Tuvaluan, 1.6% Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati, 0.8% Tuvaluan/other, and 0.6% other groups (2017 estimate)
Child marriage
men married by age 18
1.7% (2020)
women married by age 15
0% (2020)
women married by age 18
1.8% (2020)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
59 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
46.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
7.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
12.6 (2025 est.)
Physician density
1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
20% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
12.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
16.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
24 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.75% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.34 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
more than half of the inhabitants live on the atoll known as Funafuti
Life expectancy at birth
male
66.5 years
female
71.6 years
total population
69 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 96.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 3.3% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
51.6% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
64.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.9% (2019 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical climate; influenced by easterly trade winds from March through November; characterized by westerly gales and significant rainfall from November to March
Land use
other
5.7% (2023 est.)
forest
34.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
60% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
66.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
4,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environmental issues
restricted freshwater availability; erosion of beaches; loss of forest cover; harm to coral ecosystems; increasing sea levels
Particulate matter emissions
6.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Government
Flag
description: light blue featuring the UK flag in the upper-left corner; the right section of the flag displays nine yellow stars, each with five points
meaning: the stars symbolize a map of the nation, with each representing an atoll in the sea
Capital
name
Funafuti
etymology
the town shares its name with the island it inhabits; this designation may derive from the Polynesian term futi (banana) or from Futi, a spouse of a local chief, with funa serving as a feminine prefix
time difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
8 31 S, 179 13 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes; for a child born outside the country, at least one parent must hold citizenship of Tuvalu
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
na
Constitution
history
previously established in 1978 (upon independence); latest effective date was 1 October 1986
amendment process
initiated by the House of Assembly; for approval, a minimum two-thirds majority vote from the Assembly members is required during the final reading
Country name
former
Ellice Islands
etymology
the term in the local language translates to "group of eight" or "eight standing together," signifying eight of the nation's nine islands; the remaining island, Nui, was excluded from the original grouping due to its inhabitants speaking a different language; the previous name was in tribute to Canadian shipping magnate Alexander Ellice, who owned a vessel that visited the islands in 1819
local long form
none
local short form
Tuvalu
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Tuvalu
Independence
1 October 1978 (from the UK)
Legal system
a hybrid system combining English common law with local customary law
Government type
a parliamentary democracy functioning under a constitutional monarchy; part of the Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (composed of the chief justice and at least three appeal judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are adjudicated by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (based in London)
subordinate courts
magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts
judge selection and term of office
Judges of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the governor general following the Cabinet's counsel; tenure for judges is determined by their terms of appointment; the chief justice of the High Court is appointed by the governor general on the Cabinet's recommendation and serves for life; other judges are appointed by the governor general after consulting with the chief justice, with their tenure also dictated by appointment terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet members selected by the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (ascended on 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)
election results
2024: TEO was the sole candidate nominated by the House of Assembly
2019: Kausea NATANO was elected prime minister by the House of Assembly; the vote count was 10 to 6
head of government
Prime Minister Feleti Penitala TEO (since 27 February 2024)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is inherited; the governor general is appointed by the monarch based on the prime minister's and parliament's recommendation; the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected from the House of Assembly members following parliamentary elections
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
National color(s)
light blue, yellow
Political parties
note: there are no political parties, but members of parliament typically form informal alliances
Legislative branch
chamber name
Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
16 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Parliament (Palamene)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
1/26/2024
expected date of next election
January 2028
percentage of women in chamber
0%
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
used since 1745
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
maneapa (native meeting house)
Administrative divisions
7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 808-4975
chancery
685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 490-0534
chief of mission
Ambassador Tapugao FALEFOU (since 19 April 2023); also serves as the Permanent Representative to the UN
email address and website
[email protected]
[email protected]
https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the United States does not maintain an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is also responsible for Tuvalu
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration for ICJ jurisdiction; is a non-party to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$87 million (2019 est.)
expenditures
$88 million (2019 est.)
Exports
Exports 2020
$3.089 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021
$2.745 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$2.232 million (2022 est.)
Imports
Imports 2020
$56.947 million (2020 est.)
Imports 2021
$63.962 million (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$57.388 million (2022 est.)
Industries
fishing
Public debt
Public debt 2016
47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
1.453 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
1.515 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
upper middle-income economy in the Pacific islands; highly susceptible to environmental changes; currency linked to the Australian dollar; substantial recipient of international aid; subsistence-based agricultural sector; Te Kakeega sustainable development initiative; income from domain name licensing
Exports - partners
Thailand 88%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, Ireland 1%, USA 1% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 42%, Fiji 24%, Japan 11%, Australia 11%, NZ 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2021
$5,400 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2021
1.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, vegetables, tropical fruits, bananas, root vegetables, pork, chicken, eggs, pork fat, pork offal (2023)
Exports - commodities
fish (2023)
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, fish, hand tools (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2020
$8.46 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance 2021
$14.533 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$2.713 million (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$62.28 million (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.9% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
6.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
11.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$54.568 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$54.938 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$57.055 million (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
7% (2015 est.)
services
70% (2012 est.)
agriculture
15.9% (2015 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
99.1%
electrification - urban areas
100%
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
74% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
there are no television stations; a significant number of homes utilize satellite dishes to access foreign television; only one state-operated radio station exists, Radio Tuvalu, which features relays from global broadcasters (2019)
Internet country code
.tv
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
2,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
9,880 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
99 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
0 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
5 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Funafuti Atoll
very small
1
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
270 (2023)
by type
21 bulk carriers, 3 container ships, 29 general cargo vessels, 19 oil tankers, and 198 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
T2
Military & Security
Military - note
In accordance with the Falepili Union treaty established between Australia and Tuvalu, which came into effect in August 2024, Australia has pledged to support Tuvalu in the event of significant natural disasters, health crises, or military threats; in return, Tuvalu has agreed to collaborate with Australia on any partnerships, arrangements, or interactions with other states or entities concerning security and defense issues within Tuvalu.
Tuvalu maintains a "shiprider" agreement with the United States, permitting local maritime law enforcement officers to join US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels. This includes the authority to board and inspect ships suspected of breaching laws or regulations within Tuvalu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or in international waters. Additionally, these "shiprider" agreements facilitate cooperation between USCG personnel and USN vessels carrying USCG law enforcement officers with host nations to safeguard essential regional resources (2025)
Military and security forces
lacking regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force
