| Country name | conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who discovered it in 1767; Futuna is derived from the native word "futu," which is the name of the fish-poison tree found on the island |
| Dependency status | overseas collectivity of France |
| Government type | parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France |
| Capital | name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea) geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions | 3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea |
| Independence | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| National holiday | Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) |
| Constitution | history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution) amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply |
| Legal system | French civil law |
| Citizenship | see France |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Herve JONATHAN (since 11 January 2021) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly David VERGE (since 4 April 2017) cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly elections/appointments: French president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats - Wallis 13, Futuna 7; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) Wallis and Futuna indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term, and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote for a 5-year term elections: Territorial Assembly - last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2022) French Senate - last held on 28 September 2014 (next to be held by September 2020) French National Assembly - last held on 11 June 2017 (next to be held in June 2022) election results: Territorial Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 2 members are elected from the list Fia gaue fakatahi kihe kaha'u e lelei and 1 each from 18 other lists; composition - men 14, women 6, percent of women 30% French Senate - LR 1 French National Assembly - independent 1 |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases); note - appeals beyond the Court of Assizes are heard before the Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (in Noumea, New Caledonia) judge selection and term of office: NA subordinate courts: courts of first instance; labor court; note - justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the 3 traditional kings administer customary law, and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu |
| Political parties and leaders | Left Radical Party or PRG [Guillaume LACROIX] (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) (leader NA) Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU] Socialist Party or PS Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA] Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF |
| International organization participation | PIF (observer), SPC, UPU |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | none (overseas collectivity of France) |
| Flag description | 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 note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France is used for official occasions |
| National symbol(s) | red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field; national colors: red, white |
| National anthem | note: as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France) |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021
