Asia and Oceania

Tuvalu
Last reviewed: 31 March 2009

Country information

Tuvalu today
Economy
History
International relations

Geography
Trade and Investment
Politics

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History

Longer historical perspective

The Ellice Islands were proclaimed a British Protectorate along with the Gilbert Islands in 1892, and renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony in 1916. They separated from the Gilbert Islands in 1975 and became and independent Realm within the Commonwealth on 1 Oct 1978. Gilbert Islands went on to become the Republic of Kiribati in 1979, taking in the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line Islands.