Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 11,992 makes it the third-least-populated sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City at 0.44 km2 (0.17 sq mi), Monaco at 1.95 km2 (0.75 sq mi) and Nauru at 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi).
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. The islands came under the UK’s sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974, the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within the Commonwealth in 1978.
Other Information
- History of Tuvalu
- Geography of Tuvalu
- Demographics of Tuvalu
- Economy of Tuvalu
- Politics of Tuvalu
- Districts of Tuvalu
- Tuvalu Foreign relations
- Transportations in Tuvalu
- Climate change in Tuvalu
- Culture heritage in Tuvalu
- Sport in Tuvalu
- Tuvaluan cuisine
- Tuvaluan language
- Tuvalu Defence
Facts
- Capital : Funafuti
- Coordinates : 8°31′S 179°13′E / 8.517°S 179.217°E / -8.517; 179.217
- Official languages : Tuvaluan, English
- Demonym : Tuvaluan
- Motto : “Tuvalu mo te Atua” (Tuvaluan) – “Tuvalu for the Almighty”
- Anthem : Tuvalu mo te Atua (Tuvaluan) – Tuvalu for the Almighty
- Royal anthem : God Save the Queen
- Independence
- from the UK : 1 October 1978 - Area
- Total : 26 km2 (226th), 10 sq mi
- Water (%) : negligible - Population
- July 2009 estimate : 12,373 (213th)
- Density 475,88/km2 (22nd), 1,142/sq mi - GDP (PPP) : 2002 estimate
- Total : $14.94 million (228th)
- Per capita : $1,600 (2002 estimate) (148th if ranked) - HDI (2003) : n/a (unranked) (n/a)
- Currency : Tuvaluan dollar, Australian dollar (AUD)
- Time zone : (UTC+12)
- Drives on the : left
- Internet TLD : .tv
- Calling code : 688
Politics
- Government : Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional monarchy
- Monarch : Queen Elizabeth II
- Governor General : Filoimea Telito
- Prime Minister : Apisai Ielemia
Links
- Government of Tuvalu
- Chief of State and Cabinet Members
- Tuvalu entry at The World Factbook
- Tuvalu from UCB Libraries GovPubs
- Tuvalu at the Open Directory Project
- Wikimedia Atlas of Tuvalu
- Timeless Tuvalu Official Travel Website
- Tuvalu travel guide from Wikitravel
- Tuvalu Visualization Project
- Paradis Perdus: Les derniers jours de Tuvalu (part of the documentary)
- Tuvalu’s options on setting up defences against the rising sea
- Tuvalu: That Sinking Feeling
- Effects of Climate Change on Tuvalu
- Environment: Tiny Tuvalu Fights for Its Literal Survival
- The Sinking of Tuvalu
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