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
17,522,010
10,619
Life Expectancy
69.630 years
65.110 years
Capital City
Astana
Largest city
Almaty (population: 2,000,900)
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Human Development Index
0.807
0
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
Literacy Rate
99.5%
%
Corruption Perception Index
2.2
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Alijan Ibragimov ($1.2bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.400%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished
Political System
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
Independence date
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
