rs:
62.3% (male 3,335; female 3,607) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 233;
female 335) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.4% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 21.44 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 69.23 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 3.07 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Tuvaluan(s) adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

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

Languages: Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Literacy: definition: percentage of people over the age of 15 who can
read and write total population: 55% (1996) male: NA% female: NA%

Government Tuvalu

Country name: Tuvalu note: traditionally inhabited islands former:
Ellice Islands

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

Capital: Fongafale

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, M.D. (since
26 June 1998) elections: the recommendation of the prime minister;
prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members
of Parliament; election last held 13 December 2001 (next to be held by
August 2002) election results: cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister head of government:
Prime Minister Koloa TALAKE (since 13 December 2001); TALAKE took over
after Prime Minister Faimalaga LUKA was ousted in a vote of no-confidence

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called
House of Assembly (15 seats