former: Ellice Islands

Digraph: TV

Type: democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

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 Tulaga MANUELLA (since NA June 1994)
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, IFRCS (associate), INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), 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 primary economic
activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development
of a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale
of stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is
received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987
by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South
Korea.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $7.8 million (1993
est.)

National product real growth rate: NA%

National product per capita: $800 (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1989)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $4.3 million
expenditures: $4.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989 est.)

Exports: $165,000 (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities: copra
partners: Fiji, Australia, NZ

Impo