Tuvalu


Official Name: Ellice Islands
Population: 12,373
Capital: Funafuti - Pop. 4,500
Area: 26 sq. km. / 16 sq. miles.
Language: Tuvaluan, English
Religion: Protestant, Christian
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 688

Tuvalu was formerly known as the Ellice Islands, a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific OceanHawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 11,992 makes it the third-least-populated independent country in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. It is also one of the smallest members by population of the United Nations. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City, Monaco and Nauru.

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. The islands came under the UK's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974, the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within The Commonwealth in 1978.

Tuvalu is a constitutional monarchy and Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II recognised as the official Queen of Tuvalu. She is represented in Tuvalu by a Governor General, who is appointed upon the advice of the Prime Minister. The local unicameral parliament, or Fale I Fono, has 15 members and is elected every four years. Its members elect a Prime Minister who is the head of government.
Tuvalu has no regular military forces, and spends no money on the military. midway between (0.17 sq mi),

According to one source, male homosexuality in Tuvalu is illegal but female same sex is not, There are no LGBT recognitions or rights. See UN report on HIV/AIDS

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