Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Tupua LEUPENA (since 1 March 1986);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Bikenibeu PAENIU (since 16
October 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Alesana SELUKA (since October
1989)
Political parties and leaders: none
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
Parliament--last held 28 September 1989 (next to be held by
September 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(12 total)
Member of: ACP, C (special), ESCAP, SPC, SPF, UPU
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant);
US--none
Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with
nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
ECONOMY
Overview: Tuvalu consists of a scattered group of nine coral atolls
with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few
exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic
activities. The islands are too small and too remote for development of
a tourist industry. Government revenues largely come from the sale of
stamps and coins and worker remittances. Substantial income is received
annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by
Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South
Korea.
GNP: $4.6 million, per capita $530; real growth rate NA%
(1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1984)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $4.3 million; expenditures $4.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports: $1.0 million (f.o.b., 1983 est.);
commodities--copra;
partners--Fiji, Australia, NZ
Imports: $2.8 million (c.i.f., 1983 est.);
commodities--food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured
goods;
partners--Fiji, Australia, NZ
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA
Electricity: 2,600 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced,
330 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries: fishing, tourism, copra
Agriculture: coconuts, copra
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $96 million
Currency: Tuvaluan dollar and Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Tuvaluan dollar ($T) or 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tuvaluan dollars ($T) or Australian dollars ($A)
per US$1--1.2834 (January 1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752
(1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
