Simple directory > Regional > Tuvalu

Country : Tuvalu Official name: Tuvalu Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor General Filoimea Telito (sworn in 15 Apr 2005) Head of government: Prime Minister Maatia Toafa (elected and sworn in 11 Oct 2004) Area: 26 square km (nine coral atolls) Population: 11,600 (2004) Capital: Vaiaku in Funafuti administrative division Official language: Tuvaluan, English Currency: Australian dollar (A$) = 100 cents) Exchange rate: A$1.30 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$1,100 (2003) GDP real growth: 2.00% (2003) Labour force: 7,000 (2003) Inflation: 2.50% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$6.92 million (2003) Visitor numbers: 1,496 (2003)

Historical profile

Tuvalu was formerly known as the Ellice (or Lagoon) Islands.

1892 A British protectorate was declared over the Ellice Islands and the group was linked administratively with the Gilbert Islands to the north.

1916 The UK annexed the protectorate, which was renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.

1975 The Ellice Islands, under the old native name of Tuvalu (eight standing together), became a separate British dependency.

1978 Tuvalu became independent.

1989 A UN report on the greenhouse effect listed Tuvalu as one of the island groups which would completely disappear beneath the sea in the twenty-first century unless drastic action was taken.

1996 The 12-member parliament was forced out and Bikenibeu Paeniu became prime minister.

1998 Tomasi Puapua was appointed governor general.

1999 A no-confidence vote forced out Paeniu. Ionatana Ionatana was elected prime minister.

2000 Ionatana Ionatana died suddenly. Tuvalu was formally admitted to the UN.

2001 A by-election was held. Faimalaga Luka was elected prime minister by parliament. Koloa Talake was elected prime minister after Faimalaga Luka's government lost a no-confidence vote.

2002 Nine out of 15 MPs were re-elected and Prime Minister Koloa Talake and three of his ministers lost their seats. Saufatu Sopoanga was elected prime minister by parliament.

2003 Two by-elections in May resulted in the Sopoanga government losing its majority. In July, Prime Minister Sopoanga said he would delay the reconvening of parliament until he had regained majority support. Faimalaga Luka was sworn in on 9 September as Governor General. In the October by-election, the new member for Nukufetau declared his allegiance to the government, giving it a one-seat majority.

2004 During the first six months of the year, there were several very high tides – `king tides' – associated with the new moon. At only four metres above sea level, at their highest points, the islands experienced seawater swamping of homes and agricultural land. On 25 August, Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga's government was toppled in a no-confidence vote; Deputy Prime Minister Maatia Toafa became acting prime minister. Maatia Toafa was elected prime minister on 11 October.

2005 On 15 April, Filoimea Telito was sworn in as governor general.

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