deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
27.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
63.03 years
male:
61.57 years
female:
64.08 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tuvaluans(s)
adjective:
Tuvaluan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian 96%
Religions:
Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%,
Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages:
Tuvaluan, English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
NA

@Tuvalu, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Tuvalu
former:
Ellice Islands
Digraph:
TV
Type:
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992; referendum expected
in 1993
Capital:
Funafuti
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
1 October 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Constitution:
1 October 1978
Legal system:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Tomu Malaefono SIONE (since NA 1993)
head of government:
Prime Minister Kamuta LATASI (since 10 December 1993); Deputy Prime
Minister Otinielu TAUSI (since 10 December 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the
prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Palamene):
elections last held 25 November 1993 (next to be held by NA 1997);
results - percent of vote NA; seats - (12 total)
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C (special), ESCAP, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), ITU,
SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Tuvalu has no mission in the US
US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine
yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

@Tuvalu, Economy

Overview:
Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor
soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports.
Subsistence farming and fishing are the pr