903; female 3,226)
65 years and over: 5% (male 229; female 265) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.45% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 23.31 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 8.84 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years : 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.61 years
male: 62.44 years
female : 64.84 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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: NA; note - education is free and compulsory from ages 6
through 13

@Tuvalu:Government

Country name:
conventional long form : none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands

Data code: TV

Government type: democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

National 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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994)
head of government : Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23
December 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Ionatana IONATANA (since 23
December 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general
appointed by the queen on the recommendation of the prime minister;
prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the
members of Parliament; election last held NA December 1996 (next to be
held by NA 1997)
election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU elected prime minister; percent of
Parliament vote - NA; Ionatana IONATANA elected deputy prime minister;
percent of Parliament vote - NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono (12 seats -
two from each island