1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.88 years
male: 62.72 years
female: 65.09 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.11 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%

Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages: Tuvaluan, English

Literacy: NA; note-education is free and compulsory from ages 6
through 13

@Tuvalu:Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands

Data code: TV

Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary
democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

National 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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Manuella TULAGA (since NA June 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 23 December
1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Kokeiya MALUA (since 8 April 1998);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general
appointed by the queen on the recommendation of the prime minister;
prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the
members of Parliament; election last held 8 April 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002)
election results: Bikenibeu PAENIU reelected prime minister by a vote
in Parliament of 10 to 2; Kokeiya MALUA elected deputy prime minister;
percent of Parliament vote-NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called
House of Assembly (12 seats-two from each island with more than 1,000
inhabitants, one from all the other inhabited islands; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26-27 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 12

Judicial branch: eight Island Courts; High Court; note-a chief justice
visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court

Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but
members of Parliament usually align themsel