Country Profile: Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna is an isolated French overseas collectivity located in the South Pacific, approximately two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. With a population of around 16,000, it is predominantly Polynesian and Roman Catholic. The economy is primarily agrarian, heavily relying on French subsidies and remittances from New Caledonia, while agriculture includes products like coconuts and yams. The governance system is a parliamentary democracy with local autonomous powers under the French Republic.

Geography

Wallis and Futuna comprises two main islands, Wallis and Futuna, along with several smaller islets. The total land area is 142 square kilometers, featuring a tropical climate with a hot rainy season and a cooler dry season. The terrain has volcanic origins with low hills, and the highest point is Mont Singavi at 522 meters.

142 sq km total land area
129 km coastline
12 nm territorial sea limit
200 nm exclusive economic zone
80% average humidity
250-300 cm annual rainfall

People and Society

The population is estimated at 15,998 (2025) and is primarily composed of Polynesians, with a literacy rate of 99.8%. The majority of residents identify as Roman Catholic (99%), with Wallisian being the most spoken language. The demographic structure indicates an aging population, with a median age of 36.9 years.

15,998 total population (2025 est.)
81.1 years life expectancy at birth (2024 est.)
99.3% of the population has improved drinking water access (2022 est.)
11.63 births/1,000 population birth rate (2025 est.)
3.8 deaths/1,000 live births infant mortality rate (2025 est.)
99.8% literacy rate (2023 est.)

Economy

The economy of Wallis and Futuna is classified as lower-middle-income and is heavily reliant on agriculture and French support. Key agricultural products include coconuts, taro, and bananas. The territory licenses fishing rights and receives significant remittances from its diaspora in New Caledonia.

$32.54 million revenue (2015 est.)
$34.18 million expenditures (2015 est.)
35% of imports from Fiji (2023)
45% of exports to Denmark (2023)
10.31 XPF per US dollar (2024 est. exchange rate)

Government

Wallis and Futuna operates as a parliamentary democracy under the French Republic, consisting of three administrative divisions. The capital city is Mata-Utu, and the territory has its own Territorial Assembly. The legal system is based on French civil law, and citizens participate in universal suffrage at the age of 18.

20 seats in the Territorial Assembly
3 administrative precincts: Alo, Sigave, Uvea
President Emmanuel Macron is the current chief of state (since 2017)
Universal suffrage at age 18
National holiday on July 14 (Fête de la Fédération)

Military and Security

Defense responsibilities for Wallis and Futuna lie with France, which provides military and security support to this overseas collectivity.

Transportation

The territory features two airports and has a small merchant marine, primarily used for cargo. Transportation is limited, with a total of one port at Mata-Utu, the capital.

2 airports (2025)
1 general cargo vessel (2023)
1 port in Mata-Utu (2024)

Communications

Communications infrastructure includes both fixed and mobile subscriptions, with a significant portion of the population having access to mobile phones. The territory is served by the French Overseas Network for broadcast media.

12,200 mobile cellular subscriptions (2023)
3,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2021)
45.8% internet penetration rate (2021 est.)
.wf is the internet country code

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	15,998	Estimated for 2025
Area	142 sq km	Total land area
Literacy Rate	99.8%	Estimated for 2023
Life Expectancy	81.1 years	Estimated for 2024
Birth Rate	11.63	Births per 1,000 population (2025 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	3.8 deaths	Estimated for 2025
Revenue	$32.54 million	Estimated for 2015
Expenditures	$34.18 million	Estimated for 2015
Mobile Subscriptions	12,200	Total subscriptions (2023)
Fixed Line Subscriptions	3,000	Total subscriptions (2021)