/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Tuvaluan(s)

adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages: Tuvaluan, English

Literacy: definition: NA

total population: NA%

male: NA%

female: NA%

Tuvalu Government

Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Tuvalu

former: Ellice Islands

Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

Capital: Funafuti

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Constitution: 1 October 1978

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Tomasi PUAPUA
(since 26 June 1998)

head of government: Acting Prime Minister Lagitupu (of Nanumea)
TUILIMU (since 8 December 2000); note - TUILIMU took over after
Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA died suddenly of a heart attack on
8 December 2000

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime
minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 27 April 1999 (next to be held NA
2002)

election results: results of the last election for prime minister -
Ionatana IONATANA elected prime minister; percent of Parliament vote
- NA%; Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU elected deputy prime minister;
percent of Parliament vote - NA%; note - Deputy Prime Minister
Lagitupu (of Nanumea) TUILIMU became acting prime minister following
the death of Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA on 8 December 2000

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also
called House of Assembly (12 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 12

Judicial branch: High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to
preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court
of Appeal in