Tuvalu (GPS: 8 00 S, 178 00 E) is located in Oceania, an island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway from Hawaii to Australia. The country’s area measurements are total: 26 sq km; land: 26 sq km, water: 0 sq km. This sovereign state is 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC. The total irrigated land is 0 sq km (2012).
One of the important features of Tuvalu: One of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth. Six of the nine coral atolls – Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae – have lagoons open to the ocean. Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons. Niulakita does not have a lagoon.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Funafuti’s GPS coordinates are 8 31 S 179 13 E. Funafuti’s local time is 17 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+12.
For more information on Tuvalu, please scroll down below the Google Maps.
Google Maps Tuvalu and Funafuti, Oceania
About Tuvalu in detail
Flag of Tuvalu
Map of Tuvalu
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Ellice Islands’ Polynesians to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name “.tv” for $50 million in royalties over 12 years. The agreement was subsequently renegotiated, but details were not disclosed. Tuvalu will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in August 2019.
Tuvalu’s names conventional long form: none, traditional short form: Tuvalu, local long form: none, local short form: Tuvalu, former: Ellice Islands. Note: “tuvalu” means “group of eight,” referring to the country’s eight traditionally inhabited islands. “Tuvalu” means “group of eight” or “eight standing together,” referring to the country’s eight traditionally inhabited islands.
Tuvalu’s terrain is typically low-lying and narrow coral atolls. The country’s mean elevation: N/A, elevation extremes; lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m, highest point: unnamed location 5 m.
The country’s general climate is tropical: easterly trade winds (March to November): westerly gales, and heavy rain (November to March).
The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Tuvalu’s coastline is 24 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 60%; arable land 0%; permanent crops 60%; permanent pasture 0%; forest: 33.3%; other: 6.7% (2011 estimate).
The population in Tuvalu 11,147 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 59.7% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: FUNAFUTI (capital) 6,000 (2014), while Tuvalu has N/A. Their spoken languages are Tuvaluan (official language), English (official language), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui). Main religions in Tuvalu are Protestant 98.4% (Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%), Baha’i 1%, other 0.6%. The nation uses a mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law. It is a(n) parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm, National holiday(s) Independence Day, 1 October (1978).
Economic overview for the country: Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. It is one of the smallest countries globally, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea-levels, which pose significant challenges to development. The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are significant government revenue sources.
In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP. Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, had grown to $104 million (A$141 million) in 2014. It is an essential cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government’s budget. While remittances are another substantial income source, the value of remittances has declined since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis but has stabilized at nearly $4 million per year. The economic impact of climate change and the cost of climate-related adaptation projects is one of many concerns for the nation.
Natural resources of Tuvalu: fish, coconut (copra).
Main export partners for Tuvalu, Oceania are N/A for copra, fish, while the main import partners for the country are: N/A for food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods.
When you visit this country in Oceania, consider the natural hazards in Tuvalu: Severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea-level, while infectious diseases are N/A. Also, note that Tuvalu faces the following environmental issues: Water needs to be met by catchment systems, The use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion, Deforestation, Damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification, Rising sea-levels threaten water table, In 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea-levels should make evacuation necessary.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Tuvalu around its 0 km border – No border countries.
