No ATMs and no army are just two of the most interesting facts about Tuvalu, one of the smallest and least visited countries in the world.
Fast facts
Official name: Tuvalu
Capital city: Funafuti
Population: 11,464
Area: 26 sq km
Major languages: Tuvaluan, English
Time zone: UTC+12
Interesting facts about Tuvalu
1. Tuvalu is a group of nine tiny islands in Oceania. Five of the islands are coral atolls – ring-shaped reefs or series of islets caused by submerged volcanoes. The other four islands consist of land rising abruptly from the seabed.
2. The first people to settle in Tuvalu were Samoans, Tongans and possibly people from other Polynesian islands during the 14th century.
3. The first Europeans to ‘discover’ the islands of Tuvalu were during the two expeditions of Spanish explorer Alvaro Mendana de Neyra in 1568 and 1595.
4. The islands were once known as the Ellice Islands. They were named after the British MP Edward Ellice when one of his ships visited Funafuta. The name was later applied to all the islands.
5. In the late 19th century, Tuvalu was among several Pacific islands to suffer from ‘blackbirding’. Blackbirding was the kidnapping of people for use as forced labor on plantations in Fiji and Australia. The wretched practice ended around 1872 and led to several countries banning overseas labor recruitment.
6. From 1892, Tuvalu was part of the British protectorate (and later colony), the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In 1976 the group was divided and would later form parts of Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) and Tuvalu (Ellice Islands).
7. In 1978, Tuvalu formally declared independence from the UK.
8. The flag of Tuvalu is made up of a light blue background and nine yellow stars which represent the ocean, atolls and islands of the country. In the corner is a Union Jack which is symbolic of the country’s historical links with Britain.
9. There are no natural rivers or streams in Tuvalu, so the rainwater is collected for drinking water.
10. In 2011, following a significant dry spell, Tuvalu declared a state of emergency. New Zealand had to airlift in freshwater supplies and desalination units.
11. By population, Tuvalu is the world’s smallest sovereign country. Technically, Vatican City is smaller but is not a UN member state.
12. By land area, Tuvalu is the world’s fourth-smallest sovereign nation. Only Nauru, Monaco and Vatican City are smaller.
13. Initially, Tuvalu could not join the United Nations because it couldn’t afford the entrance fee. When internet domain names were first assigned to countries, Tuvalu received the sought-after abbreviation of .tv. In 2000, the country negotiated a 12-year $50m lease of its domain, and again in 2012. It used the profits to install electricity on outer islands, create scholarships and join the UN.
14. Tuvalu is the least visited country in the world. It only receives around 3,136 tourists tourists a year.
15. There are no ATMs (cash machines) in Tuvalu and credit/debit card payments are also not accepted. Visitors must take sufficient cash (Australian dollars) with them for the duration of their trip.
16. Tuvalu is one of just 22 countries not to have an army.
17. With a mean elevation of just two meters, Tuvalu has one of the world’s lowest average elevations.
18. At its narrowest point, the island of Fongafale measures just 20m across.
19. As such, this low-lying country is under threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change. Two of Tuvalu’s islands are on the verge of being swallowed by sea-rise and coastal erosion.
20. During the Second World War, Tuvalu played a key role in the liberation of Pacific islands occupied by Japan. Many US missions were launched from Tuvalu. Funafuti was also attacked during Japanese airstrikes in 1943.
21. After the war concluded in 1945, the Funafuti Airfield became Funafuti International Airport and is still used today.
22. Tuvalu, like many Pacific nations, has one of the fattest populations in the world. It is ranked in the world’s top 10 most obese countries, according to the Global Obesity Index.
23. Tuvalu has the world’s smallest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world – $42.59 million.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.