Tuvalu
Oceania Β· Capital: Funafuti
How it is run: Tuvalu is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Tuvalu is home to 9,492 people β fewer than fit in a big sports stadium in Polynesia, where people speak English, Tuvaluan.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
9,492 people β fewer than fit in a big sports stadium
That is about 1 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
26 kmΒ²
Smaller than most big cities β you could cross it in an afternoon.
ποΈ How crowded
About 365 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
19th most people in Oceania
24th largest by land in Oceania.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Tuvaluan
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Australian dollar ($), Tuvaluan dollar ($)
More than one currency is used here.
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
67.3 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$6,041
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
65.4% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
33% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+688
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.tv
π§ People here are called
Tuvaluan
π·οΈ Name at home
Tuvalu
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Asia and the Pacific Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Tuvalu has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Tuvalu
French
Tuvalu
Arabic
ΨͺΩΩΨ§ΩΩ
Chinese
εΎη¦ε’
Japanese
γγγ«
Russian
Π’ΡΠ²Π°Π»Ρ
Portuguese
Tuvalu
German
Tuvalu
Put it in perspective π
- Australia β the most populated country in Oceania β has about 2909.2Γ as many people as Tuvalu.
- All of Tuvalu would fit inside one large national park in many other countries.
- If everyone in Tuvalu lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 5 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Tuvalu
ποΈ Capital
Funafuti
π Region
Oceania Β· Polynesia
π€ Country code
TV
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Tuvalu π
π§ Where on the map
8.0Β° S, 178.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+12 β when it is noon in London it is about 00:00 in Funafuti.
- Tuvalu is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Tuvalu shares its part of the world with Niue. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- πΉπ» is the flag of Tuvalu. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is TV.
- Tuvalu is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Tuvalu has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Tuvalu can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Tuvalu spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Tuvalu?
Funafuti
Which money do people spend in Tuvalu?
Australian dollar ($), Tuvaluan dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Tuvalu?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Tuvalu?
9,492 people β fewer than fit in a big sports stadium
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.