Tuvalu

Parliamentary Democracy Under A Constitutional MonarchyPop12KGDP (PPP)$57.1MCI81Beta CP0.0→Beta

Tuvalu

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Overview

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; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: low-lying and narrow 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, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to 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: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level
Geography note: one of the smallest and most remote countries on earth; six of the nine coral atolls -- Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae -- have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon
Natural resources: fish, coconut (copra)
Area comparative: about the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E
Population distribution: over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 100% (2022 est.)
Female: 100% (2022 est.)
Total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Languages: Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Religions: Protestant 92.7% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.9%, Brethren 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assemblies of God 1.5%), Baha'i 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 3.9%, none or refused 0.4% (2017 est.)

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: Tuvaluan 97%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 1.6%, Tuvaluan/other 0.8%, other 0.6% (2017 est.)

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: over half of the population resides on the atoll of 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.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the right half of the flag has nine five-pointed yellow stars

meaning: the stars represent a map of the country, with each symbolizing an atoll in the ocean

Capital

Name: Funafuti
Note: note: the capital is an atoll of 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet
Etymology: the town has the same name as the island it is located on; the name may either come from the Polynesian word futi (banana) or the name Futi, one of the wives of a local ruler, with the word funa added 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 abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: na

Constitution

History: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986
Amendment process: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading

Country Name

Former: Ellice Islands
Etymology: the name in the local language means "group of eight" or "eight standing together," referring to eight of the country's nine islands; the remaining island, Nui, was left out of the original grouping because its inhabitants spoke a different language; the former name was given in honor of Canadian shipping company owner Alexander Ellice, who owned a ship 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: mixed system of English common law and local customary law
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet members selected by the prime minister
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)
Election results: 2024: TEO was the only candidate nominated by the House of Assembly

2019: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote - 10 to 6
Head of government: Prime Minister Feleti Penitala TEO (since 27 February 2024)
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister and the parliament; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
National color(s): light blue, yellow
Political parties: note: no political parties, but members of parliament usually align in informal groupings

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
Note: note: the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy
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); note - also Permanent Representative to UN
Email address and website: tuvalumission.un@gmail.com

tuvalu.unmission@gov.tv

https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

International organisations: 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 submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

TUVALU · LEGISLATURE

Parliament of Tuvalu

16 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

independent politician

Parties

All political parties1 party · 16 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

CI
Charles III
- Head of StateSince 2022
FT
Feleti Teo
- Head of GovernmentSince 2024

Economy

Budget

Note: note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
Revenues: $87 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $88 million (2019 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $3.089 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2020: $3.089 million (2020 est.)
Exports 2021: $2.745 million (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $2.232 million (2022 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $56.947 million (2020 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled): 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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 Pacific island economy; extremely environmentally fragile; currency pegged to Australian dollar; large international aid recipient; subsistence agrarian sector; Te Kakeega sustainable development; domain name licensing incomes
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

Civica canonical (reconciled): $6,151

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.9%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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

Civica canonical (reconciled): $2.7M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 11.5% (2022 est.)

Note: note: annual % change based on 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)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $57.055 million (2023 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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: no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV; 1 state-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays from international 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.)

Transport

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: bulk carrier 21, container ship 3, general cargo 29, oil tanker 19, other 198

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T2

Environment

Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (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: limited freshwater resources; beach erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs; rising 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

Military & Security

Military note: as part of the Falepili Union treaty between Australia and Tuvalu, which entered into force in August 2024, Australia committed to assist Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic, or military aggression; Tuvalu pledged to mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement, or engagement with any other State or entity on security and defense-related matters in Tuvalu

Tuvalu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tuvalu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index81.0 / 100as of 2024-Q419 / 1902024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

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Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Tuvalu — vintage 2026-Q1: Tuvalu factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/tuvalu

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Tuvalu

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Parliament of Tuvalu

Current

Charles III

Feleti Teo

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Electricity Access

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

International Environmental Agreements

Cite this page