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(opens in new window) In 1974, ethnic differences within the
British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of
the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the
Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate
British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu
negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million
in royalties over the next dozen years. Oceania, island group consisting of nine
coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to Australia 8 00 S, 178 00 E total: 26 sq
km tropical; moderated by easterly trade
winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
very low-lying and narrow coral atolls
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m fish arable land:
0% severe tropical storms are usually rare,
but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very
sensitive to changes in sea level since there are no streams or rivers and
groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment
systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one
desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because
of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest
undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the
Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in
greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which
threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government
appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea
levels should make evacuation necessary one of the smallest and most remote
countries on Earth; six of the 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 11,468 (July 2004 est.) Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6% Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on
the island of Nui) constitutional monarchy with a
parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992 Funafuti; note - administrative offices
are located in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet 1 October 1978 (from UK) Tuvalu consists of a densely populated,
scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no
known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are
the primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,
visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from the sale of
stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru
in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans,
however, as phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received
annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia,
NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise
investments and conservative withdrawals, this Fund has grown from an
initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US government is also a
major revenue source for Tuvalu, because of payments from a 1988 treaty on
fisheries. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the
government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of
some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu
began deriving revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines and in
2000, from the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these
new technology sources could increase substantially over the next decade.
With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise imports, continued
reliance must be placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees,
remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and investment income
from overseas assets. people make a living mainly through
exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those
abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors) copra, fish Poland 31.5%, Azerbaijan 13.7%, Italy 11%,
France 11%, Germany 6.8%, Austria 6.8%, Rwanda 5.5%, Hungary 5.5%, Fiji 4.1%
(2003 est.) food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery,
manufactured goods Fiji 26.7%, Australia 19.4%, Poland 14.7%,
Germany 13.7%, Japan 11.4%, New Zealand 8.7% (2003 est.) Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is
also a Tuvaluan dollar Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per
US dollar - 1.5419, (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000),
1.5497 (1999) general assessment:
serves particular needs for internal communications total: 8 km
Funafuti, Nukufetau total: 6
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,993 GRT/86,048 DWT 1 (2003 est.) total: 1 no regular military forces; Police Force
(includes Maritime Surveillance Unit for search and rescue missions and
surveillance operations) |
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