Tuvalu
 

1937 - 1 Oct 1975 Government Maritime Flag 3 Dec 1976 - 1 Oct 1978 1 Oct 1978 - 1 Oct 1995   1 Oct 1995 - 22 Dec 1995 22 Dec 1995 - 11 Apr 1997 Re-adopted 11 Apr 1997 Map of Tuvalu Hear National Anthem "Tuvalu mo te Atua" (Tuvalu for the Almighty) Text of National Anthem  Adopted 1 Oct 1978 Constitution (1 Oct 2023) Capital: Funafuti (administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet) Currencies: Tuvaluan Dollar (TVD) (from 1975); Australian  Dollar (AUD); 1892-1966 Australian Pound (AUP) National Holiday: 1 Oct (1978) Independence Day Population: 11,733 (2024) GDP: $59.2 million (2023) Exports: $2.23 million (2022) Imports: $5.38 million (2022)  Ethnic groups: Tuvaluan 86.8%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 5.6%, Tuvaluan/other 6.7%, other 0.9% (2012) Total Police Force: 72 (2012)  Non-formal Security Arrangements with Australia and New Zealand Merchant marine: 270 ships (2023) Religions: Protestant 92.7% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.9%, Brethren 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assemblies of God 1.5%), Baha'i 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 3.9%, none or refused 0.4% (2017) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APA (observer), APM, C, CTBT, CWC, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ITU, NPT, OPCW, PC, PIDF, PIF, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Tuvalu Index Chronology 16 Jan 1568                Spanish Capt. Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra (b. 1541 -                              d. 1595) sights Nui Island which he names Isla                              de Jesús. 29 Aug 1595                Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra (s.a.) discovers                              Niulakita Island which he names La Solitaria. 1764                       Probably sighted by British Capt. John Byron (b.                              1723 - d. 1786) on the Dolphin and named the                              Lagoon Islands.   5 May 1781                Spanish Capt. Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa (b. 1750                              – d.1820) sights Niutao Island which he names                              El Gran Cocal and Nanumea named San Augustin. May 1819                   American Capt. Arent de Peyster (b. 1779 - d. 1863)                              on the British ship Rebecca, names Nukefetau                              as Depester's Group and Funafuti as Ellice's                              Group, after his patron British MP Edward Ellice                              (b. 1783 - d. 1863). 17 Apr 1820                Russian explorer Mikhail Lazarev (b. 1788 - d.                              1851) visits Nukufetau aboard the Mirnyy.  6-8 Nov 1821              U.S. Capt. George Barrett (b. 1773 - d. 1821)                              sights Nukulaelae which he names Mitchell's Group                              and re-sights Nurakita named Independence Island. Mar 1841                   U.S. Exploring Expedition commanded by Capt.                              Charles Wilkes surveys Nukufetau, Vaitupu, and                              Nanumanga Islands.  9-16 Oct 1892             Ellice Islands declared a British protectorate by                              Capt. Herbert William Sumner Gibson (b. 1846 -                              d. 1823) aboard the HMS Curacoa as part of                              the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (see Kiribati).  2 Oct 1942 - Jul 1944     U.S. Naval Base at Funafuti. Jul 1974 - Sep 1974        Ellice Islands referendum votes to separate from                              the Gilbert Islands, 92.8%-7.2%.  1 Oct 1975                Separate dependency (Ellice Islands).  1 Oct 1978                Independence from Britain (Tuvalu).  7 Feb 1979                U.S. recognizes Funafuti, Nukefetau, Nukulaelae,                              and Nurakita (Niulakita) atolls as part of                              Tuvalu (effective 23 Sep 1983). Feb 1986                   Referendum votes against becoming a republic,                              90.7%-5.1%. 30 Apr 2008                Referendum again votes against becoming a republic,                              64.9%-35%. Nanumea

Chiefs of Funafuti (title Aliki tupu)
.... - ....                Telematua
.... - ....                Kaitosuga
.... - ....                Tailoa I
.... - ....                Tailoa II
.... - ....                Tepaolo
.... - ....                Salaika
.... - ....                Polau
.... - ....                Tauasa
.... - ....                Silimaiau
.... - ....                Tila
.... - ....                Sokomani
.... - ....                Talafou
.... - ....                Featule
.... - ....                Teleke
.... - ....                Matavai
.... - ....                Iakopo
.... - ....                Manu
1892? - 1902               Elia                               (b. 18.. - d. 1902)
Resident Commissioner of the Ellice Islands
1892 - Oct 1893            Charles Richard Swayne             (b. 1843 - d. 1921)
Commissioner
 1 Oct 1975 -  1 Oct 1978  Thomas Henry Layng                 (b. 1933 - d. 2015)
King/Queen¹
 1 Oct 1978 -              the King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
 1 Oct 1978 -  1 Mar 1986  Fiatau Penitala Teo                (b. 1911 - d. 1998)
                             (from 2 Jun 1979, Sir Fiatau Penitala Teo)             
 1 Mar 1986 -  1 Oct 1990  Tupua Leupena                      (b. 1922 - d. 1996)
                             (from 8 Jul 1986, Sir Tupua Leupena)
 1 Oct 1990 -  1 Dec 1993  Sir Toaripi Lauti                  (b. 1928 - d. 2014)
 1 Dec 1993 - 21 Jun 1994  Tomu Malaefone Sione               (b. 1941 - d. 2016)
21 Jun 1994 - 26 Jun 1998  Tulaga Manuella                    (b. 1936)
                             (from 15 Feb 1996, Sir Tulaga Manuella)
26 Jun 1998 -  9 Sep 2003  Sir Tomasi Puapua                  (b. 1938)
 9 Sep 2003 - 15 Apr 2005  Faimalaga Luka                     (b. 1940 - d. 2005)
15 Apr 2005 - 19 Mar 2010  Filoimea Telito                    (b. 1945 - d. 2011)
                             (from 12 Jan 2007, Sir Filoimea Telito)
19 Mar 2010 - 16 Apr 2010  Sir Kamuta Latasi (acting)         (b. 1936)
16 Apr 2010 - 22 Aug 2019  Iakoba Taeia Italeli
                             (from 21 Jun 2010, Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli)      
22 Aug 2019 - Jan 2021     Teniku Talesi Honolulu (f) (acting)
Jan 2021 - 28 Sep 2021     Samuelu Penitala Teo (acting)      (b. 1957 - d. 2024)
28 Sep 2021 -              Tofiga Vaevalu Falani 
                             (from 18 Sep 2022, Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani)

Chief minister
 2 Oct 1975 -  1 Oct 1978  Toalipi Lauti                      (s.a.)               Non-party
Prime ministers
 1 Oct 1978 -  8 Sep 1981  Toalipi Lauti                      (s.a.)               Non-party
                             (from 1980, Toaripi Lauti)               
 8 Sep 1981 - 16 Oct 1989  Tomasi Puapua                      (s.a.)               Non-party
16 Oct 1989 - 10 Dec 1993  Bikenibeu Paeniu (1st time)        (b. 1956)         None;1992 TUP
10 Dec 1993 - 24 Dec 1996  Kamuta Latasi                      (s.a.)               Non-party
24 Dec 1996 - 27 Apr 1999  Bikenibeu Paeniu (2nd time)        (s.a.)               Non-party
27 Apr 1999 -  8 Dec 2000  Ionatana Ionatana                  (b. 1938 - d. 2000)  Non-party
 8 Dec 2000 - 24 Feb 2001  Lagitupu Tuilimu (acting)                               Non-party
24 Feb 2001 - 14 Dec 2001  Faimalaga Luka                     (s.a.)               Non-party
14 Dec 2001 -  2 Aug 2002  Koloa Talake                       (b. 1934 - d. 2008)  Non-party
 2 Aug 2002 - 27 Aug 2004  Saufatu Sopoanga                   (b. 1952 - d. 2020)  Non-party
27 Aug 2004 - 14 Aug 2006  Maatia Toafa (1st time)            (b. 1954)            Non-party
                             (acting to 11 Oct 2004)
14 Aug 2006 - 29 Sep 2010  Apisai Ielemia                     (b. 1955 - d. 2018)  Non-party
29 Sep 2010 - 24 Dec 2010  Maatia Toafa (2nd time)            (s.a.)               Non-party
24 Dec 2010 -  1 Aug 2013  Willy Telavi                       (b. 1958)            Non-party
 1 Aug 2013 - 19 Sep 2019  Enele Sosene Sopoaga               (b. 1956)            Non-party
                             (acting to 5 Aug 2013)
19 Sep 2019 - 26 Feb 2024  Kausea Natano                      (b. 1957)            Non-party
26 Feb 2024 -              Feleti Teo                         (b. 1962)            Non-party

  ¹Full style:
(a) 1 Oct 1978 - 12 May 1987: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";
(b) 12 May 1987 - 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God Queen of Tuvalu and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth";
(c) from 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God King of Tuvalu and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: None identified.

Party abbreviations: No Political Parties Exist;
- Former parties: TUP = Tama i Fulu a Tuvalu (Tuvalu United Party, pro-Bikenibeu Paeniu, est.1992)

©  Ben Cahoon