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Country Guide > Australia and South Pacific > Tuvalu | |
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General Information Area 26 sq km (10 sq miles). Population 10,880 (2002). Population Density 418.5 per sq km. Capital Funafuti. Population: 4,590 (2000). Geography Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) is a scattered group of nine small atolls in the western Pacific Ocean extending about 560km (350 miles) from north to south. Nearest neighbours are Fiji (to the south), Kiribati (north) and the Solomon Islands (west). The main island, Funafuti, is also the capital and lies 1920km (1200 miles) north of Suva, Fiji. Government Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1978. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Faimalaga Luka since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Maatia Toafa since 2004. Language Tuvaluan and English are the main languages. Religion Approximately 98 per cent Protestant. Time GMT + 12. Electricity 220/240 volts AC, 60Hz (Funafuti only). Communications Telephone IDD service is available. Country code: 688. There are no area codes. Tuvalu has recently acquired satellite communications technology and international phone calls can be made from most of the islands. Fax Available at the Telecommunication Centre in Funafuti and in hotels. Internet ISPs include Tuvalu.TV. Telegram Overseas telegrams may be sent via the Post Office in Funafuti. Post Airmail services to Europe take between five and 10 days to arrive, but can be erratic. Tuvalu stamps are among the most sought after in the world. Press The Government Broadcasting and Information Division publishes Tuvalu Echoes (in English, on a fortnightly basis). Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |