Asia and Oceania
Tuvalu
Last reviewed: 3 September 2008
Country information
Area: 26 sq km (16 sq mi)
Population: 9,652 (SPC 2006)
Capital City: Funafuti
People: Polynesian
Languages: Tuvaluan, English
Religions: Church of Tuvalu, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD); there is also a Tuvaluan dollar, which exists only as coinage
Major Political Parties: Independent, Westminster-style parliamentary democracy.
Government: Unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General HE Reverend Filoimeia Telito (since April 2005)
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & Labour:Hon Apisai Ielemia (since 14 August 2006)
Membership of international groups/ organisations: Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Commonwealth, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), International Telecommunication Union, South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (SPARTECA), Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Island Forum (PIF), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD ), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO) (applicant)
HEALTH
Health facilities in Tuvalu are basic.
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