The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842, and took official control of them between 1886 and 1888. Notably, Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, a phase that ended in May of 1942 with the arrival of 2,000 American troops. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory and officially assumed this status in July 1961.

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

volcanic origin; low hills

deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural freshwater resources

both island groups have fringing reefs

Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

15,453 (July 2012 est.)

13.91 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

4.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population

1.79 children born/woman (2012 est.)

overseas territory of France

parliamentary representive democratic French overseas collectivity

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

none (overseas territory of France)

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP); Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei; Union Populaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF

PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

none (overseas territory of France)

unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant

red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia.

$60 million (2004 est.)

5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

copra, chemicals, construction materials

$61.17 million (2004)

chemicals, machinery, consumer goods

$3.67 million (2004)

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2008)

defense is the responsibility of France