Wallis and Futuna

The territory is divided into three traditional kingdoms (royaumes coutumiers): Uvea, on the island of Wallis, Sigave, on the western part of the island of Futuna, and Alo, on the eastern part of the island of Futuna and on the uninhabited island of Alofi (only Uvea is further subdivided, into three districts):

Kingdom   District	Capital	Area (km2)	Population 2003 census	Population 2018 census	2003–2018 evolution	Villages[lower-alpha 1]
Wallis Island
Uvea (Wallis)	Mata Utu	77.5	10,071	8,333	−17.3%	21
Hihifo ("west")	Vaitupu	23.4	2,422	1,942	−19.8%	5
Hahake ("east")	Mata Utu	27.8	3,950	3,415	−13.5%	6
Mu'a ("first")	Mala'efo'ou[lower-alpha 2]	26.3	3,699	2,976	−19.5%	10
Futuna[lower-alpha 3]
Sigave (Singave)	Leava	16.75	1,880	1,275	−32.2%	6
Alo	Mala'e	47.5	2,993	1,950	−34.8%	9
Total Futuna	Leava	64.25	4,873	3,225	−33.8%	15
Overall total	Mata Utu	142.42	14,944	11,558	−22.7%	36
Refers to villages with municipal status. Formerly called Mua. Alofi is virtually uninhabited; administratively it falls under Alo.

The capital of the collectivity is Mata Utu on the island of Uvéa, the most populous of the Wallis Islands. As an overseas collectivity of France, it is governed under the French constitution of 28 September 1958, and has universal suffrage for those over 18 years of age. The French president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the high administrator is appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly. The most recent election was held on 20 March 2022.[14]

As of 2021, the head of state is President Emmanuel Macron of France, as represented by Administrator-Superior Thierry Queffelec.[15] The president of the Territorial Assembly has been Petelo Hanisi since 11 December 2013.[16] The Council of the Territory consists of three kings (monarchs of the three pre-colonial kingdoms) and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly.

The legislative branch consists of the unicameral 20-member Territorial Assembly or Assemblée territoriale. Its members are elected by popular vote, and serve five-year terms. Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly.

Criminal justice is generally governed by French law and administered by a tribunal of first resort in Mata Utu; appeals from that tribunal are decided by the Court of Appeal in Nouméa, New Caledonia. However, in non-criminal cases (civil-law disputes), the three traditional kingdoms administer justice according to customary law.

The territory participates in the Franc Zone, and is both a permanent member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and an observer at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Location map of Wallis and Futuna in relation to France.

Map of the territory of Wallis and Futuna

Aerial view of Wallis Island (Uvea)

Wallis and Futuna is located about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is 13°18′S 176°12′W, 360 km (220 mi) west of Samoa and 480 km (300 mi) northeast of Fiji.

The territory includes the island of Uvéa (also called Wallis), which is the most populous; the island of Futuna; the virtually uninhabited island of Alofi; and 20 uninhabited islets. The total area of the territory is 274 square kilometres (106 sq mi), with 129 kilometres (80 mi) of coastline. The highest point in the territory is Mont Puke, on the island of Futuna, at 524 metres (1,719 ft).

The islands have a hot, rainy season from November to April, when tropical cyclones passing over them cause storms. Then they have a cool, dry season from May to October, caused by the southeast trade winds that predominate during those months. The average annual rainfall is between 2,500 and 3,000 millimetres (98–118  in), and rain is likely on at least 260 days per year. The average humidity is 80%. The average annual temperature is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F), rarely falling below 24.0 °C (75.2 °F); during the rainy season, it ranges between 28.0 °C (82.4 °F) and 32.0 °C (89.6 °F).

Only 5% of the islands' land area consists of arable land; permanent crops cover another 20%. Deforestation is a serious problem: Only small portions of the original forests remain, largely because the inhabitants use wood as their main fuel source, and, as a result, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly susceptible to erosion. The island of Alofi lacks natural freshwater resources, so it has no permanent settlements.

Volcanic activity during the mid-Pleistocene created numerous volcanic crater lakes on Uvea (Wallis Island). The names of some of them are: Lalolalo, Lano, Lanutavake, Lanutuli, Lanumaha, Kikila, and Alofivai.[17]

Wallis and Futuna is part of the Fiji tropical moist forests terrestrial ecoregion.[18]

The GDP of Wallis and Futuna in 2005 was US$188 million (at market exchange rates).[2] The territory's economy consists mostly of traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Additional revenue comes from French government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and France. Industries include copra, handicrafts, fishing, and lumber. Agricultural products include coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas, pigs, and fish. Exports include copra, chemicals, and fish.

There is a single bank in the territory, Banque de Wallis-et-Futuna, established in 1991. It is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas. There had previously been a branch of Banque Indosuez at Mata Utu. It had opened in 1977, but was closed in 1989, leaving the territory without any bank for two years.

The culture of Wallis and Futuna is Polynesian, and is similar to the cultures of its neighbouring nations Samoa and Tonga. The Wallisian and Futunan cultures are very similar to each other in language, dance, cuisine and modes of celebration.

Fishing and agriculture are the traditional occupations, and most people live in traditional oval, thatch fale houses.[29] Kava is a popular beverage brewed in the two islands, as in much else of Polynesia. It also serves as a traditional offering in rituals.[29] Highly detailed tapa cloth art is a specialty of Wallis and Futuna.[30]

Uvea Museum Association is a private museum that holds a collection of objects that record the history of the Second World War in the territory.[31] It is located in Mata Utu shopping centre and in 2009 was open by appointment.[32]

In 2018, the territory had 3,132 telephones in use,[33] one AM radio station, and two television broadcast stations. Communication costs are up to ten times higher than in western countries. The island of Wallis has about 100 kilometres (62 mi) of roadways, 16 of which are paved. The island of Futuna has only 20 kilometres (12 mi) of roadways, none of which are paved. The territory has two main ports, in the harbours at Mata Utu and Leava (on the island of Futuna). These ports support its merchant marine fleet, which comprises three ships (two passenger ships and a petroleum tanker), totaling 92,060 GRT or 45,881 tonnes. There are two airports: Hihifo Airport, on Wallis, which has a 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) paved runway; and Pointe Vele Airport, on Futuna, which has a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) runway.[34] Now the only commercial flights to and from Wallis are operated by Caledonia-based Aircalin, which has an office in Mata Utu. There are currently no commercial boat operators.

There are 18 primary schools in the territory, 12 on Wallis and six on Futuna, with a combined total of over 5200 students.[37]

The territory has six junior high schools and one senior high school/sixth-form college.[38]

• Junior high schools (collèges) in Wallis: Mataotama de Malae, Alofivai de Lano, Vaimoana de Lavegahau, and Tinemui de Teesi
• Junior high schools in Futuna: Fiua de Sigave and Sisia d'Ono
• The senior high school/sixth-form college is Lycée d'État de Wallis et Futuna on Wallis

There is also an agricultural high school.[37]

As of 2018, yaws was endemic in the area, but cases were not being reported to the WHO eradication programme.[39]

Healthcare is available free of charge in two hospitals on Uvea and Futuna islands.[40] There are also three dispensaries.[41]

Deforestation is a major concern in the region as only small portions of the original forests remain due to the continued use of wood as the main source of fuel. Consequently, the mountainous terrain of Futuna has become prone to erosion. There are no permanent settlements on Alofi due to the lack of natural freshwater resources, and the presence of infertile soil on the islands of Uvea and Futuna further reduces the agricultural productivity.[42]

• Outline of Wallis and Futuna
• Administrative divisions of France
• French overseas departments and territories
• Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans
• Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania

Look up Wallis and Futuna in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wallis and Futuna.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wallis and Futuna.

• Official website of the French Administrateur supérieur de Wallis-et-Futuna (in French)
• Wallis-et-Futuna La 1ère – Online news
• Wikimedia Atlas of Wallis and Futuna
• GigaCatholic
• Map of Wallis and Futuna, with district boundaries
• Information about Wallis and Futuna (in French)