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Wallis and Futuna Country Guide

Explore Wallis and Futuna in Oceania

Wallis and Futuna with the capital city Mata-Utu is located in Oceania (Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 274 square kilometres (1.5 times the size of Washington, DC) with 16,025 citizens.

Interactive map of Wallis and Futuna

The terrain features volcanic origin with low hills. The average density of population is approximately 58 per km². The notable climate conditions in Wallis and Futuna can be described as tropical with hot, rainy season (November to April), cool, dry season (May to October), rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity) and average temperature 26.6 degrees C. Potential natural disasters are NA.

To reach someone in Wallis and Futuna dial +681 prior to a number. There are 3,000 installed telephones. And there are 0 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of n/a MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".wf". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.

About the flag and history of Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna Flag Icon

Unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions.


The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.



Geography Quick-Facts

SummaryContinent: Oceania
Neighbours:
Capital: Mata-Utu
Size274 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 105 square miles (mi² or sqmi)
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Population16,025
CurrencyName Franc, Currency Code:XPF
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD).wf
Telephone Country Prefix+681
Mobile Phone Connections0
Landline Phone Connections3,000

Country Position in World Rankings

Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).

Geography

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Area142 (sq km)221

People and Society

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Population15,507 223
Population growth rate0.35 (%)160
Birth rate13.74 (births/1,000 population)145
Death rate4.84 (deaths/1,000 population)192
Net migration rate-5.42 (migrant(s)/1,000 population)193
Infant mortality rate4.55 (deaths/1,000 live births)187
Life expectancy at birth79.27 (years)44
Total fertility rate1.77 (children born/woman)163

Economy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
GDP (purchasing power parity)60,000,000 224
GDP - per capita (PPP)3,800 169
Labor force3,104 226
Unemployment rate12.20 (%)128
Public debt5.60 (% of GDP)147
Inflation rate (consumer prices)2.80 (%)72
Exports47,450 222
Imports61,170,000 217
Debt - external3,670,000 199

Communications

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Internet hosts2,760 157
Internet users1,300 212

Transportation

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Airports2 203

Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases

List of current world heritage sites

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