ectancy at birth:
total population:
62.64 years
male:
61.27 years
female:
63.82 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tuvaluans(s)
adjective:
Tuvaluan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian 96%
Religions:
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i
1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
Tuvaluan, English
Literacy: total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
NA

*Tuvalu, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Tuvalu
former:
Ellice Islands
Digraph:
TV
Type:
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992; referendum expected in
1993
Capital:
Funafuti
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
1 October 1978 (from UK)
Constitution:
1 October 1978
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Parliament:
last held 28 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1993); results
- percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total)
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Palamene)
Judicial branch:
High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Toaripi LAUTI (since NA 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16 October 1989); Deputy Prime
Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October 1989)
Member of:
ACP, C (special), ESCAP, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow
five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

*Tuvalu, Economy

Overview:
Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil.
The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence
farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. The islands are too
small and too remote for development of a tourist industry. Government
revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker
remittan