The World Factbook (1990)/Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna (overseas territory of France)
_Wallis_and_Futuna.jpg)
See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 274 km²; land area: 274 km²
Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims:
- Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
- Extended economic zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October)
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: 5% arable land; 20% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other
Environment: both island groups have fringing reefs
Note: located 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
People
Population: 14,910 (July 1990), growth
rate 3.0% (1990)
Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 70 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders; adjective—Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic divisions: almost entirely Polynesian
Religion: largely Roman Catholic
Language: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA
Government
Long-form name: Territory of the Wallis
and Futuna Islands
Type: overseas territory of France
Capital: Mata-Utu
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French
National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Executive branch: French president, high administrator; note there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblée Territoriale)
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Leaders: Chief of State—President François MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
Head of Government—Chief Administrator Roger DUMEC (since 15 July 1988)
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Démocratie Française (UDF)
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
Elections: Territorial Assembly—last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(20 total) RPR 7, UDF coalition 7, UPL 6;
French Senate—last held NA (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) party of the representative is NA;
French National Assembly—last held NA (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) RPR 1
Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the US by France
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy
Overview: The economy is limited to
subsistence agriculture. The majority of the
labor force earns its livelihood from agriculture, raising livestock, and fishing, with
the rest employed by the government
sector. Exports are negligible. The Territory
has to import food, fuel, and construction
materials, and is dependent on budgetary
support from France to meet recurring
expenses. The economy also benefits from
cash remittances from expatriate workers.
GDP: $6.7 million, per capita $484; real growth rate NA% (est. 1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NA; commodities—copra; partners—NA
Imports: $3.4 million (c.i.f., 1977); commodities—largely foodstuffs and some equipment associated with development programs; partners—France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Agriculture: dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro, bananas
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $118 million
Currency: Comptoirs Français du Pacifique franc (plural—francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Français du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Highways: 100 km on Île Uvéa (Wallis
Island), 16 km sealed; 20 km earth
surface on Île Futuna (Futuna Island)
Inland waterways: none
Ports: Mata-Utu, Leava
Airports: 2 total; 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 225 telephones; stations—1 AM, no FM, no TV
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of
France