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 fresh water resources
Geography - note:
both island groups have fringing reefs
People
Wallis and Futuna
Population:
15,237 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: (male 2,215/female 1,999) 15-64 years: (male 4,982/female 4,996) 65 years and over: (male 465/female 580)
Population growth rate:
NA (2008 est.)