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 that status in 1961. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna's designation changed to that of an overseas collectivity.

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

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

129 km

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius

volcanic origin; low hills

highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m

NEGL

arable land 7.1%; permanent crops 35.7%; permanent pasture 0%

0 sq km (2012)

cyclones; tsunamis

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; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes

15,714 (July 2017 est.)

Polynesian

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

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

0.32% (2017 est.)

13.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population

MATA-UTU (capital) 1,000 (2014)

1.73 children born/woman (2017 est.)

1.1 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

rural: 96% of population

total: 96% of population

rural: 4% of population

total: 4% of population (2008 est.)

NA

NA

NA

overseas collectivity of France

parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France

3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea

none (overseas colectivity of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

French civil law

see France

18 years of age; universal

French Senate - last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2020)

French National Assembly - last held on 11 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022)

French Senate - 1 seat: LR 1

French National Assembly - 1 seat: independent 1

Left Radical Party or PRG [Sylvia PINEL] (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG)

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians)

Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]

Socialist Party or PS

Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]

Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

NA

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

none (overseas territory of France)

none (overseas collectivity 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

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with 80% of labor force earnings coming from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. However, roughly 70% of the labor force is employed in the public sector, although only about 20% of the population is in salaried employment.

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. France directly finances the public sector and healthcare and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects in a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and healthcare facilities.

A key concern for Wallis and Futuna is an aging population with consequent economic development issues. Very few people aged 18-30 live on the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. Improving job creation is a current priority for the territorial government.

$60 million (2004 est.)

$NA

NA%

$3,800 (2004 est.)

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

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

NA%

3,104 (2003)

12.2% (2008 est.)

NA%

NA%

NA% of GDP

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

calendar year

2.8% (2005)

$47,450 (2004 est.)

copra, chemicals, construction materials

$61.17 million (2004)

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

$3.67 million (2004)

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

107.54 (2015 est.)

89.8 (2014 est.)

89.85 (2013 est.)

90.56 (2012 est.)

85.74 (2011 est.)

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

.wf

2 (2013)

defense is the responsibility of France

none