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
3,359,185
10,619
Life Expectancy
61.530 years
65.110 years
Capital City
Nouakchott
Largest city
Nouakchott (population: 661,400)
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Human Development Index
0.557
0
GDP per capita
$2,200 US
Literacy Rate
51.2%
%
Corruption Perception Index
2.8
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
19.9%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
30.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
military junta
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
Independence date
28 November 1960 (from France)
Religions
Muslim 100%
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages
Arabic (official and national), Pulaar, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French, Hassaniya
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Exports
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold, copper, petroleum
External Debt
$2,816,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar - NA (2007), 271.3 (2006), 267.04 (2005), 265.8 (2004), 263.03 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Area
1,030,700 km sq
26 km sq
Coastline
754 km
24 km
Climate
desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
