Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a Polynesian island country located in the Pacific Ocean. It comprises three reef islands and six true atolls. With a population of about 11,192 people, it is the third-least populous sovereign state in the world, and also the fourth smallest country in the world by land area.

Geography

Tuvalu is located in the Pacific Ocean, situated in Oceania and is part of the British Commonwealth. The country is spread out between the latitude of 5° and 10° south and longitude of 176° and 180°, west of the International Date Line. Tuvalu consists of six atolls and three reef islands. The largest of these atolls is Funafuti, which is also the capital of Tuvalu.

History

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians. The islands came under Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974, the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati.

Economy

Tuvalu's economy is primarily based on subsistence agriculture, which provides a living for 80% of the population. Fishing also provides a significant source of income. Revenue from the Tuvalu Trust Fund, an independently managed trust fund based on a $17 million initial Australian, New Zealand, and British contribution, a lease of its .tv Internet domain name, and remittances from seafarers on merchant ships abroad also contribute to the economy.

Culture

The culture of Tuvalu is essentially Polynesian with influences from Micronesia. Traditional music and dance are kept alive and performed at various local and national events. The Tuvaluan language and English are the national languages of Tuvalu.

See also

• List of cities in Tuvalu
• Tuvalu National Library and Archives
• Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau

Tuvalu Resources
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