Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Willy Telavi Tuvalu has no political parties. Allegiances revolve around personalities and geography. The 15-member parliament is popularly elected every four years. The prime minister is chosen by MPs.
Population
2,098,018
10,619
Life Expectancy
55.740 years
65.110 years
Capital City
Gaborone
Largest city
Gaborone (population: 208,411)
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Human Development Index
0.664
0
GDP per capita
$16,200 US
Literacy Rate
81.2%
%
Corruption Perception Index
5.8
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
7.500%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary republic
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
Independence date
30 September 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Exports
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
External Debt
$1,973,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7907 (2008 est.), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Area
581,730 km sq
26 km sq
Coastline
0 km
24 km
Climate
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
