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.
President, ruler of Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Population
10,619
5,314,317
Life Expectancy
65.110 years
76.710 years
Capital City
Abu Dhabi
Largest city
Funafuti (population: 4,749)
Dubai (population: 1,137,350)
Human Development Index
0
0.903
GDP per capita
$48,800 US
Literacy Rate
%
77.9%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
5.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
0%
22.5%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair & family ($7.8bn US)
Unemployment Rate
2.400%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Independence date
2 December 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Muslim 96% (Shia 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%
Languages
Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar - 3.673 (2008 est.), 3.673 (2007), 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725 (2004) note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
3.100%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Area
26 km sq
83,600 km sq
Coastline
24 km
1,318 km
Climate
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
