Wallis-and-Futuna

WALLIS-AND-FUTUNA

Information about travelling to Wallis-and-Futuna

Wallis-and-Futuna is located in Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Facts about Wallis-and-Futuna
Population15,237 (July 2008 est.)
CapitalMata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Time zoneUTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

General info about Wallis-and-Futuna
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. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.
Languages spoken
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Ethnic division
Polynesian
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
NA
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Resources
NEGL
Economy
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia.
Environment
deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources

Cities in Wallis-and-Futuna




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