World Factbook
Tuvalu
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the right half of the flag has nine five-pointed yellow stars meaning: the stars represent a map of the country, with each symbolizing an atoll in the ocean
Capital
name
Funafuti
note
note: the capital is an atoll of 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet
etymology
the town has the same name as the island it is located on; the name may either come from the Polynesian word futi (banana) or the name Futi, one of the wives of a local ruler, with the word funa added as a feminine prefix
time difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
8 31 S, 179 13 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
na
Constitution
history
previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986
amendment process
proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading
Country name
former
Ellice Islands
etymology
the name in the local language means "group of eight" or "eight standing together," referring to eight of the country's nine islands; the remaining island, Nui, was left out of the original grouping because its inhabitants spoke a different language; the former name was given in honor of Canadian shipping company owner Alexander Ellice, who owned a ship that visited the islands in 1819
local long form
none
local short form
Tuvalu
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Tuvalu
Independence
1 October 1978 (from the UK)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and local customary law
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
subordinate courts
magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet members selected by the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)
election results
2024: TEO was the only candidate nominated by the House of Assembly 2019: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote - 10 to 6
head of government
Prime Minister Feleti Penitala TEO (since 27 February 2024)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister and the parliament; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
National color(s)
light blue, yellow
Political parties
note: no political parties, but members of parliament usually align in informal groupings
Legislative branch
chamber name
Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
16 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Parliament (Palamene)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
1/26/2024
expected date of next election
January 2028
percentage of women in chamber
0%
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
used since 1745
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
maneapa (native meeting house)
Administrative divisions
7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (212) 808-4975
note
note: the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy
chancery
685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017
telephone
[1] (212) 490-0534
chief of mission
Ambassador Tapugao FALEFOU (since 19 April 2023); note - also Permanent Representative to UN
email address and website
tuvalumission.un@gmail.com tuvalu.unmission@gov.tv https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt