Ethnic groups: Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%
Religions: Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%
Languages: Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Literacy: definition: percentage of people over the age of 15 who can read and write total population: 55% (1996) male: NA% female: NA%
Government Tuvalu
Country name: Tuvalu note: traditionally inhabited islands former:
Ellice Islands
Government type: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992
Capital: Fongafale
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK)