
Tuvalu Guide
Tuvalu – country information
Country name | Tuvalu |
Official name | Tuvalu |
Capital | Funafuti |
Continent | Australia and Oceania |
Area | 26 km2 |
Population | 11,323 (2013) |
Foundation of a state | 1/10/1978 |
State system | a constitutional monarchy without political parties with a unicameral parliament |
The biggest cities | Fongafale (Funafuti) (Capital) 3800 |
Official language | Tuvaluan, English |
Ethnicity/National Composition | Tuvaluans (Polynesians) 92%, half-breeds 7.5%, others 0.5% |
Religious affiliation | Tuval Protestants (Congregationalists) 97%, Adventists 1.4%, Baha’is 1%, others 0.6% |
Currency | 1 Tuvalu dollar (=) = 100 cents |
gross domestic product (GDP) | US$3,443 (2012) |
Average life expectancy of the population | 68.32 years (2006) |
Structure of GDP | agriculture and fishing 23%, mining and industry 6.5%, construction 14.5%, services 56% |
Country overview
According to Abbreviationfinder, Tuvalu is a small island nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean between the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati to the north and Fiji to the south. They used to be called the Ellice or Lagoon Islands, and until 1978 they were part of the British colony of the Gilbert Islands and Ellice.
Country data
Location: South Pacific Ocean
Time zone: CET + 11 (during summer time: CET + 10)
Total area: 26 km²
Land area: 26 km²
Water area: 0 km²
Length of the state border: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Capital: Funafuti
Regions: 8
Funafuti, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Electric current: 240 V / 60 Hz
Telephone code: 00 688 (Source: Allcitycodes)
Highest point: 5 m
Population
Population: approx. 11,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)
Population growth: 0.8% per year
Population density (residents per km²): 423
Life expectancy: 64 (male), 68 (female)
Official language: Tuvaluan, English
Climate
Tuvalu is located in a tropical climate zone. Daytime temperatures are around 30 ° C for most of the year. Even during the night it hardly cools down. The climate is only cooled to a bearable level by the winds blowing from the sea.
There is often tropical warm rain, but it can also turn into strong thunderstorms.
In contrast to Europe, the humidity in Tuvalu is very high.
Currency / finance
Currency unit: Australian dollar (AUD)
Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents
ATMs: not available
International credit cards: Not accepted.
Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. A declaration is required from an equivalent value of AUD 2,000.
It is recommended to bring US dollars or Australian dollars with you as foreign currency.
Since there are no credit card acceptance points, you should bring the necessary funds with you when you travel to Tuvalu.
The local currency is the Australian dollar. However, Tuvalu coins are still in circulation.
Customs regulations
The following may be carried duty-free:
- 200 cigarettes
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)
Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.
There is an import ban for the following products:
<ul
- pure alcohol</ul
- · pornographic literature and articles
- Drugs and weapons of all kinds
You should also refrain from taking food with you.
Travel advice
There is no German embassy in Tuvalu. The German embassy in Wellington / New Zealand is responsible.
Behavioral advice
Since there is a constant shortage of drinking water and often only rainwater is available, you should always boil this before use.
You should also have a good first-aid kit with you. Even small wounds can quickly become infected in the climate.
We strongly recommend that you take out travel health insurance that includes medical repatriation.
Economy
There is no significant industry in Tuvalu that produces goods.
The procurement of foreign currency consists of the sale of your own telephone area code (for expensive value-added services), the sale of licenses for the Internet address.tv, the granting of fishing licenses and the sale of postage stamps.
Industries: fish processing, tourism
Natural resources: fish
Land use:
- Usable land: 0%
- Grain cultivation: 0%
- Pasture area: 0%
- Forests: 0%
- other: 100%
Plants
Since almost nothing grows due to the lack of fresh water and the poor coral bottom, there are only a few breadfruit trees and coconut palms.
Animals
Besides lizards and rats, there are only a few sea birds on land. No other animal species find a habitat here.
There are still abundant fish stocks in the sea around Tuvalu.