A beach at Funafuti atoll, Tuvalu, on a sunny day.
Photo: Stefan Lins, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Photo taken on Niutao Island on the day when the inter-island ferry arrived. The villagers turn out to help off-load cargo.
Photo: Cesqld, Public domain · source
Did you know?
Tuvalu is composed of three reef islands and six atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° and 10° south and between the longitude of 176° and 180°. They lie west of the International Date Line. The 2022 census determined that Tuvalu had a population of 10,643, making it the 194th most populous country and also the 2nd least populated country in the United Nations, exceeding only Niue and the Vatican City in population. Tuvalu's total land area is 25.14 square kilometres (9.71 sq mi). It is the 4th smallest country in the world, the only smaller nations being Monaco, Naoero and Vatican City.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
On main road, Funafuti looking south.
Photo: Davidarfonjones, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Funafuti (Tuvalu) from space
Photo: NASA, bearbeitet HT, Public domain · source
History
The origins of the people of Tuvalu are addressed in the theories regarding the migration into the Pacific that began about 3,000 years ago. During pre-European-contact times, there was frequent canoe voyaging between the nearer islands including Samoa and Tonga. Eight of the nine islands of Tuvalu were inhabited. This explains the origin of the name, Tuvalu, which means 'eight standing together' in Tuvaluan (compare to *walu meaning 'eight' in Proto-Austronesian). Possible evidence of human-made fires in the Caves of Nanumanga suggests humans may have occupied the islands for thousands of years.
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Photo taken from the harbour breakwater on Vaitupu Island. The ship Monu Folau is one of two interisland ferries that links the main island (Funafuti) with the 8 outer…
Photo: Cesqld, Public domain · source
Ocean side of Funafuti looking south.
Photo: Davidarfonjones, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Geography and environment
Tuvalu is a volcanic archipelago, and consists of three reef islands (Nanumanga, Niutao and Niulakita) and six true atolls (Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu). Its small, scattered group of low-lying atolls have poor soil and a total land area of only about 26 square kilometres (10 square miles) making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita; however, the low-lying atolls and reef islands of Tuvalu are susceptible to seawater flooding during cyclones and storms.
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Tuvalu Meteorological Service in Funafuti looking east.
Photo: Davidarfonjones, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Government
The Constitution of Tuvalu states that it is "the supreme law of Tuvalu" and that "all other laws shall be interpreted and applied subject to this Constitution"; it sets out the Principles of the Bill of Rights and the Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. On 5 September 2023, Tuvalu's parliament passed the Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2023, with the changes to the constitution came into effect on 1 October 2023.
Tuvalu is a parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth realm with Charles III as King of Tuvalu.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Society
The population at the 2002 census was 9,561, and the population at the 2017 census was 10,645. The total population, recorded in the census of 12 December 2022, was 10,643. Since then, population has dropped in 2026 to 9,316. this is #2227 in the list of nations populations. The population of Tuvalu is primarily of Polynesian ethnicity, with approximately 5.6% of the population being Micronesians speaking Gilbertese, especially on Nui.
Life expectancy for women in Tuvalu is 70.2 years and 65.6 years for men (2018 est.). The country's population growth rate is 0.86% (2018 est.).
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Culture
The traditional buildings of Tuvalu used plants and trees from the native broadleaf forest, including timber from pouka (Hernandia peltata); ngia or ingia bush (Pemphis acidula); miro (Thespesia populnea); Tonga (Rhizophora mucronata); fau or fo fafini, or woman's fibre tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus). Fibre is from coconut; ferra, native fig (Ficus aspem); fala, screw pine or Pandanus. The buildings were constructed without nails, lashed together with plaited sennit rope handmade from dried coconut fibre.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sport and leisure
A traditional sport played in Tuvalu is kilikiti, which is similar to cricket. A popular sport specific to Tuvalu is Te ano (The ball), which is played with two round balls of 12 cm (5 in) diameter. Te ano is a traditional game that is similar to volleyball, in which the two hard balls made from pandanus leaves are volleyed at great speed with the team members trying to stop the ball hitting the ground. Traditional sports in the late 19th century were foot racing, lance throwing, quarterstaff fencing and wrestling, although the Christian missionaries disapproved of these activities.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Economy
From 1996 to 2002, Tuvalu was one of the best-performing Pacific Island economies and achieved an average real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.6% per annum. Economic growth slowed after 2002, with GDP growth of 1.5% in 2008. Tuvalu was exposed to rapid rises in world prices of fuel and food in 2008, with the level of inflation peaking at 13.4%. Tuvalu has the smallest total GDP of any sovereign state in the world.
Tuvalu joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 24 June 2010.
The growth of GDP of Tuvalu was at a high point in 2019.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Transport
There are limited transport services in Tuvalu. There are about eight kilometres (5 miles) of roads. The streets of Funafuti were paved in mid-2002, but other roads are unpaved. Tuvalu does not have any railways.
Funafuti is the only port, but there is a deep-water berth in the lagoon at Nukufetau. Landing passengers and cargo on some of the islands is difficult as the reef islands do not have a lagoon that shipping can enter or the atoll's lagoon does not have navigable channels.
Wikipedia: Tuvalu – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0