World · permanent entity record · WF
Wallis and Futuna
Thirty-second orientation
Wallis and Futuna at a glance
- Capital
- name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Population
- total: 15,998 (2025 est.) male: 8,217 female: 7,781
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Area
- total : 142 sq km land: 142 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
- Languages
- Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-18
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Maintained classification
Dependency or area of special sovereignty
France
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
Maintained profile
- Classification
- Dependency or area of special sovereignty
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
- Sovereignty or administration
- France
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
- Administrative center
- Mata-Utu
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- Around 800 B.C., the first settlers arrived on the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are a natural midpoint between Fiji and Samoa. Around A.D. 1500, Tongans invaded Wallis, and a chiefdom system resembling Tonga’s formal hierarchy developed on the island. Tongans attempted to settle Futuna but were repeatedly rebuffed. Samoans settled Futuna in the 1600s, and a slightly less centralized chiefdom system formed. Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to see the islands in 1616, followed intermittently by other Europeans, including British explorer Samuel WALLIS in 1767. French Catholic missionaries were the first Europeans to permanently settle Wallis and Futuna in 1837, and they converted most of the population of both islands by 1846. The missionaries and newly converted King LAVELUA of Uvea on Wallis asked France for a protectorate in 1842 following a local rebellion. France agreed, although the protectorate status would not be ratified until 1887. In 1888, King MUSULAMU of Alo and King TAMOLE of Sigave, both on Futuna, signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate; the Wallis and Futuna protectorate was integrated into the territory of New Caledonia the same year. France renegotiated the terms of the protectorate with the territory’s three kings in 1910, expanding French authority. Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, until the arrival of Free French and US troops in 1942. In 1959, inhabitants of the islands voted to separate from New Caledonia, becoming a French overseas territory in 1961. Despite the split, a significant Wallisian and Futunan community still lives in New Caledonia. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity. The islands joined the Pacific Islands Forum as an associate member in 2018, two years after France’s other Pacific territories became full members of the organization.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography16 fields
- Location
- Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 142 sq km land: 142 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 35.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 74.9% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society23 fields
- Population
- total: 15,998 (2025 est.) male: 8,217 female: 7,781
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 1,643/female 1,511) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 5,535/female 5,247) 65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,023/female 1,005)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 29 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 36.9 years (2025 est.) male: 35.5 years female: 37.3 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 11.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -3.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 0% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 81.1 years (2024 est.) male: 78.2 years female: 84.2 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.71 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- rural: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.) urban: NA rural: 0.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- rural: 94.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 94.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 5.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 57.2% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Literacy
- total population: 99.8% (2023 est.) male: 99.9% (2023 est.) female: 100% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment4 fields
- Environmental issues
- deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) due to wood as the main fuel source; soil erosion; lack of natural freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 35.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 74.9% (2023 est.) other: 0% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 0% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government22 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who visited in 1767; Futuna is a local name, and the meaning is unclear
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency status
- overseas collectivity of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Administrative divisions
- 3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Jean-François de MANHEULLE (since 17 November 2025) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022) cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly election/appointment process: French president elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Territorial Assembly (Assemblée territoriale) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 20 (directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/20/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua (2); Mauli fetokoniaki (2); 1 seat each from 16 other lists note: 1 senator is indirectly elected to the French Senate by an electoral college for a 6-year term, and 1 deputy is directly elected to the French National Assembly for a 5-year term
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases) judge selection and term of office: NA subordinate courts: courts of first instance; labor court note 1: appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia) note 2: justice is generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- Left Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR Socialist Party or PS Taumu'a Lelei Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (overseas territory of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- none (overseas collectivity of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- none (overseas collectivity of France)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790) note: often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789 and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are la Fête nationale (National Holiday) and le Quatorze Juillet (14th of July)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: unofficial local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; a small flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper-left corner meaning: the triangles represent the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator history: the design is derived from a red flag with a white cross that French missionaries introduced in the 19th century note: the flag of France is used for official occasions
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National symbol(s)
- red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle history: official anthem, as a French territory
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy9 fields
- Economic overview
- lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy; heavily reliant on French subsidies; licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea; major remittances from New Caledonia; aging workforce; import-dependent; deforestation-fueled fragility
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $32.54 million (2015 est.) expenditures: $34.18 million (2015 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- Denmark 35%, Sweden 14%, Netherlands 14%, Pakistan 9%, Poland 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- seats (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- Fiji 35%, France 32%, NZ 11%, Australia 6%, China 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, prepared meat, poultry, iron pipe fittings, animal food (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 110.31 (2024 est.) 110.347 (2023 est.) 113.474 (2022 est.) 100.88 (2021 est.) 104.711 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications5 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 3,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 12,200 (2023) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 45.8% (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation3 fields
Military and Security1 fields
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of France
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.