Tuvalu | |
---|---|
Motto: "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvaluan) "Tuvalu for the Almighty" | |
Anthem: Tuvalu mo te Atua (Tuvaluan) Tuvalu for the Almighty | |
Capital and largest city | Funafuti 8°31′S 179°12′E / 8.517°S 179.200°E |
Official languages | English |
Recognised national languages | Tuvaluan |
Ethnic groups |
|
Religion | Christianity (Church of Tuvalu)[1] |
Demonym(s) | Tuvaluan |
Government | Unitary non-partisan parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
Tofiga Vaevalu Falani | |
Feleti Teo[2] | |
Legislature | Parliament |
Independence | |
• from the United Kingdom | 1 October 1978 |
Area | |
• Total | 26 km2 (10 sq mi)[3] (191st) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
Population | |
• 2019 estimate | 11,646 (229th) |
• 2017 census | 10,645 |
• Density | 475.88/km2 (1,232.5/sq mi) (27th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2016 estimate |
• Total | $39 million[4] (226th) |
• Per capita | $3,566[4] (156th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $45 million[4] (194th) |
• Per capita | $2,970[4] (118th) |
Currency | (AUD) |
Time zone | UTC+12 |
Driving side | left |
Calling code | +688 |
ISO 3166 code | TV |
Internet TLD | .tv |
Tuvalu is a small island country in the Pacific Ocean.[5] In the past, it was the Ellice Islands. It was part of Gilbert and Ellice Islands with Kiribati. It is a monarchy.
Tuvalu is getting smaller. If the sea level keeps rising at the same rate, this country will be covered by water in about 50 years.[6]
The most important languages spoken in Tuvalu are Tuvaluan and English.[5]
The United States and Tuvalu signed a treaty of friendship in 1979, when the US gave up their claim to Tuvalu for the islands of Funafuti, Nukefetau, Nukulaelae, and Nurakita.