Portal:Tuvalu

Tuvalu
Tuvalu
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ISO 3166 code	TV

The Tuvalu Portal

A beach at Funafuti atoll, Tuvalu, on a sunny day

Tuvalu (/tuːˈvɑːluː/ ^ⓘ too-VAH-loo) is an island country in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and Australia. It lies east-northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands (which belong to the Solomon Islands), northeast of Vanuatu, southeast of Nauru, south of Kiribati, west of Tokelau, northwest of Samoa and Wallis and Futuna, and north of Fiji.

Tuvalu is composed of three reef islands and six atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° and 10° south and between the longitude of 176° and 180°. They lie west of the International Date Line. The 2022 census determined that Tuvalu had a population of 10,643, making it the second-least populous country in the world, behind Vatican City. Tuvalu's total land area is 25.14 square kilometres (9.71 sq mi).

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians arriving as part of the migration of Polynesians into the Pacific that began about three thousand years ago. Long before European contact with the Pacific islands, Polynesians frequently voyaged by canoe between the islands. Polynesian navigation skills enabled them to make elaborately planned journeys in either double-hulled sailing canoes or outrigger canoes. Scholars believe that the Polynesians spread out from Samoa and Tonga into the Tuvaluan atolls, which then served as a stepping stone for further migration into the Polynesian outliers in Melanesia and Micronesia. (Full article...)

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The Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau (now trading as Tuvalu Post Limited) is the government body in Tuvalu that issues new stamps and first day covers, which are available for purchase by stamp collectors around the world. The Bureau is located in Funafuti.

The sale of stamps has since the independence of Tuvalu in 1976 has been an important source of revenue for the country and government. However, such revenue has significantly declined in recent years. (Full article...)
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Logo of Tuvalu Islands Football Association

Association football is the most popular sport in Tuvalu. Football in Tuvalu is governed by the Tuvalu National Football Association (TNFA). The TNFA became an associate member association of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on 15 November 2006 with a further reinstatement on 16 March 2020. The TNFA has been wanting to become a full member of the OFC and a member of FIFA since 1987. (Full article...)
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Tuvalu is a small island nation in the South Pacific, located North of Fiji and North West of Samoa. The population at the 2012 census was 10,837 (2012 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Analytical Report). Tuvalu has a written constitution which includes a statement of rights influenced by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. While most human rights in Tuvalu are respected, areas of concern include women’s rights and freedom of belief, as well as diminishing access to human rights in the face of global warming. The latter has played a major role in the implementation of human rights actions in Tuvalu given its geographical vulnerability and scarce resources. (Full article...)
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Telavi in 2011

Willy Telavi (born 28 January 1954) is a Tuvaluan politician who served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2010 to 2013.

Born in Nanumea, Telavi was first elected to parliament in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010. He became prime minister on 24 December 2010 and the Telavi Ministry retained government until August 2013. The refusal of prime minister Telavi to recall the Parliament of Tuvalu after the 2013 Nukufetau by-election resulted in a constitutional crisis when he adopted the position that, under the Constitution of Tuvalu, he was only required to convene parliament once a year, and was thus under no obligation to summon it until December 2013. The opposition then requested the Governor-General of Tuvalu, Sir Iakoba Italeli, to intervene against the Telavi's decision. (Full article...)
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Tuvalu participates in the Olympic Games in the Summer Olympics. It has yet to compete at the Winter Olympics.

The Tuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee was recognised as a National Olympic Committee in July 2007. Tuvalu entered the Olympics for the first time at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, with a weightlifter and two athletes in the men's and women's 100-metre sprints. Tuvaluan athletes have yet to progress past the first round of their events. (Full article...)
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Darkspotted moray in coral
Fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus)

Tuvaluan mythology tells stories of the creation of the islands of Tuvalu and of the founding ancestors of each island. While on some of the islands there are stories of spirits creating the islands, a creation story that is found on many of the islands is that te Pusi mo te Ali (the Eel and the Flounder) created the islands of Tuvalu; te Ali (the flounder) is believed to be the origin of the flat atolls of Tuvalu and te Pusi (the eel) is the model for the coconut palms that are important in the lives of Tuvaluans. The strength of this belief has the consequence that Moray eel are tapu and are not eaten. (Full article...)
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Map of Tuvalu

The 2011 Tuvalu drought was a period of severe drought afflicting Tuvalu, a South Pacific island country of approximately 10,500 people, in the latter half of 2011. A state of emergency was declared on September 28, 2011; with rationing of available fresh-water.
The La Niña event that caused the drought ended in April–May 2012. By August 2012 the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Conditions indicated that the tropical Pacific Ocean was on the brink of an El Niño event. (Full article...)
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Sopoanga in 2003

Saufatu Sopoanga (22 February 1952 – 15 December 2020) was a Tuvaluan politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Tuvalu from 2 August 2002 to 27 August 2004. He drew international attention for his speeches warning about the effects of the rising sea level on Tuvalu and other low-lying island countries.

He later served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006. His younger brother Enele Sopoaga served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2013 to 2019. (Full article...)
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The Tuvalu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (TASNOC) is the Tuvaluan organization recognised as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In 2006, Tuvalu satisfied the IOC's criterion of a minimum five national sports federations recognised by their international sports federations, which included basketball, volleyball, weightlifting, boxing and table tennis.

TASNOC is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code published by the World Anti-Doping Agency. (Full article...)
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Nukulaelae atoll from space

Nukulaelae is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu, and it has a population of 300 (2017 census). The largest settlement is Pepesala on Fangaua islet with a population of 341 people (2022 Census). It has the form of an oval and consists of at least 15 islets. The inhabited islet is Fangaua, which is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long and 50 to 200 metres (160 to 660 ft) wide. The easternmost point of Tuvalu is Niuoko islet. The Nukulaelae Conservation Area covers the eastern end of the lagoon. A baseline survey of marine life in the conservation zone was conducted in 2010. (Full article...)
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The Law of Tuvalu comprises the legislation voted into law by the Parliament of Tuvalu and statutory instruments that become law; certain Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom (during the time Tuvalu was either a British protectorate or British colony); the common law; and customary law (particularly in relation to the ownership of land). The land tenure system is largely based on kaitasi (extended family ownership). (Full article...)
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Aerial view of Nui

Nui is an atoll and one of nine districts of the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu. It has a land area of 3.37 km² and a population of 514 (2022 Census).

Traditionally Nuian culture is organised in three family circles – Tekaubaonga, Tekaunimala and Tekaunibiti families. Most people live on the western end of Fenua Tapu. In the 2012 census, 321 people live in Alamoni – Maiaki and 221 people live in Manutalake – Meang (Tanrake). The junior school is Vaipuna Primary School. (Full article...)
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The flag bearer of Tuvalu, Etimoni Timuani (sprinter), at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sport is an important part of Tuvaluan culture, whose sporting culture is based on traditional games and athletic activities and the adoption of some of the major international sports of the modern era.

Popular sports in Tuvalu include association football, futsal, volleyball, handball, Badminton, Table tennis, Lawn Tennis, basketball and rugby union. Tuvalu has sports organisations to support local competitions and the participation of Tuvalu in international competitions, including the Tuvalu Tennis Association, Tuvalu Table Tennis Association, Tuvalu National Badminton Association, Tuvalu National Football Association, Tuvalu Basketball Federation, Tuvalu Rugby Union, Tuvalu Weightlifting Federation and Tuvalu Powerlifting Federation. (Full article...)
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Tuvalu competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, which was held from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The country's participation at London marked its second appearance in the Summer Olympics since its debut at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The delegation consisted of three competitors: two short-distance runners, Tavevele Noa and Asenate Manoa, and one weightlifter, Tuau Lapua Lapua. All three qualified for the games through wildcard places because they did not meet the qualification standards. Lapua was the flag bearer for the opening ceremony while Manoa carried it at the closing ceremony. Noa and Manoa failed to advance beyond the preliminary rounds of their events although the latter established a new national record for the women's 100 metres, while Lapua placed 12th in the men's featherweight (62 kilogram) weightlifting competition. (Full article...)
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The politics of Tuvalu takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the monarch is the head of state, represented by the governor-general, while the prime minister is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government.

The Constitution of Tuvalu states that it is "the supreme law of Tuvalu" and that "all other laws shall be interpreted and applied subject to this Constitution"; it sets out the Principles of the Bill of Rights and the Protection of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms. In 1986 the Constitution adopted upon independence was amended in order to give attention to Tuvaluan custom and tradition as well as the aspirations and values of the Tuvaluan people. The changes placed greater emphasis on Tuvaluan community values rather than Western concepts of individual freedom. The Constitution of Tuvalu Act 2023, further addressed the role of Tuvaluan culture, and also referred to the climate crisis, and Tuvalu’s statehood and national boundaries. (Full article...)

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The cuisine of Tuvalu is based on the staple of coconut and the many species of fish found in the ocean and the lagoons of the atolls of Tuvalu. Pulaka, (cyrtosperma merkusii), or swamp taro, is an important source of carbohydrates. Rice now forms an important part of the diet. Coconut is used in different forms with coconut water, coconut milk and the flesh of the coconut being used to flavour dishes. Various desserts made on the islands include coconut and coconut milk, instead of animal milk.

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The following are images from various Tuvalu-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Woman on Funafuti, Harry Clifford Fassett (1900). (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 2The atoll of Nui (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 3The atoll of Vaitupu (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 4M1918 155mm gun, manned by the 5th Defense Battalion on Funafuti. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 5Fualifeke Islet (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 6Interior of a maneapa on Funafuti, Tuvalu (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 740mm antiaircraft gun from the United States Marine Corps' 2d Airdrome Battalion defending the LST offload at Nukufetau on August 28, 1943. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 8Landing cargo on the reef at Niutao (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 9The reef island of Niutao (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 10The atoll of Nanumea (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 11The atoll of Nukulaelae (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 12Polynesia is the largest of three major cultural areas in the Pacific Ocean. Polynesia is generally defined as the islands within the Polynesian triangle. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 13The reef island of Niulakita (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 14Green sea turtle (from Funafuti Conservation Area)
Image 15Interior of a maneapa on Funafuti, Tuvalu. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 16The atoll of Funafuti; borings into a coral reef and the results, being the report of the Coral Reef Committee of the Royal Society (1904). (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 17Main Street in Funafuti, (circa 1905). (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 18The reef island of Nanumanga (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 19The atoll of Nukufetau (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 20Fualifeke Islet (from Funafuti Conservation Area)
Image 21Funafuti atoll (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 22Funafuti (from Coral reefs of Tuvalu)
Image 23A portrait of a woman on Funafuti in 1894 by Count Rudolf Festetics de Tolna. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 241st Lt. Louis Zamperini, peers through a hole in his B-24D Liberator 'Super Man' made by a 20mm shell over Nauru, 20 April 1943. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 25Black noddy calling at colony (from Funafuti Conservation Area)
Image 26Black noddy (from Funafuti Conservation Area)
Image 27Lat. and Long. (Funafuti) (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 28Tamala of Nukufetau atoll, Ellice Islands (circa 1900–1910) (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 29A Tuvaluan dancer at Auckland's Pasifika Festival. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 30Green sea turtle swimming towards surface (from Funafuti Conservation Area)
Image 31A map of Tuvalu. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 32Scaevola taccada and Guettarda speciosa grow near the beach on Nanumea Atoll (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 33Ocean side of Funafuti atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll. (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 34Nukufetau atoll. (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 35A man from the Nukufetau atoll, 1841, drawn by Alfred Agate. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 36Martin Kleis (1850–1908) with Kotalo Kleis and their son Hans Martin Kleis. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 37Fualefeke Islet (from Geography of Tuvalu)
Image 38Ocean side of Funafuti atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 39Tuvaluan man in traditional costume drawn by Alfred Agate in 1841 during the United States Exploring Expedition. (from History of Tuvalu)
Image 40Funafuti (from Funafuti Conservation Area)

Did you know (auto-generated)

... that the coral reefs of Tuvalu include the Funafuti Conservation Area, which encompasses 20 per cent of the reef area of Funafuti atoll?

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Christianity came to Tuvalu in 1861 when Elekana, a deacon of a Congregational church in Manihiki, Cook Islands became caught in a storm and drifted in a canoe for 8 weeks before landing at Nukulaelae on 10 May 1861.
Trading companies were active in Tuvalu from about 1850 to 1910; the companies engaged palagi traders who lived on the islands. The last of the palagi traders were Fred Whibley on Niutao, Alfred Restieaux on Nukufetau and Martin Kleis on Nui.