Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a Polynesian micro-state comprising nine dispersed, low lying islets and atolls in the South Pacific Ocean. It is one of the smallest and most isolated countries in the world. Formerly a British colony that included the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), Tuvalu achieved independence in 1978. More than half of Tuvalu’s 11,000 people live on Funafuti, the main island. The remaining islands are sparsely populated and some reefs are inaccessible to large boats.

Tuvalu is classified as a Least Developed Country (LDC), but has met the threshold for graduation to developing country status based on its human development indicators and high per capita income. Life expectancy and adult literacy are comparatively high for the region.¹⁷⁵ The country has requested a postponement to its LDC graduation because of extreme economic exposure and the immediate threat of climate change and natural disasters. The Global Financial Crisis reversed earlier gains to reduce poverty when household incomes fell because of decreased overseas worker remittances.¹⁷⁶ Poverty has increased in the last decade,¹⁷⁷ particularly in urban areas.

Around three quarters of the labour force works in the informal economy, primarily subsistence farming and fishing. Most of the islands are built on coral and are not suitable for crop production beyond household needs. Historically, Tuvaluan men have found employment as seamen on foreign cargo vessels, but there are few current employment opportunities for a range of economic and social reasons.¹⁷⁸ Underemployment, particularly of young people in the outer islands, has fuelled the increasing urbanisation of Funafuti. High population density is placing extreme pressure on the fragile environment while depopulation is hindering development of the outer islands.¹⁷⁹

Tuvalu has few exports and depends on revenues from fishing license fees, overseas remittances, dividends from the Tuvalu Trust Fund, and income from rent of the “dot tv” Internet extension.¹⁸⁰ Overseas aid provides around fifty per cent of GDP. The public sector is large and most enterprises are state owned. Tuvalu’s remoteness from major markets, its lack of scale, weak institutional capacity, banking sector vulnerabilities, income growth volatility, and high debt stress constitute tremendous challenges for sustainable growth.¹⁸¹

Tuvalu has achieved gender parity in primary education although there is some concern that fewer boys are accessing secondary and tertiary education levels. Women’s participation in the paid labour market is increasing, including a high number of women in the public service. Since independence, only three women have held seats in the Tuvalu Parliament. More than 46 per cent of women report experiencing some form of gender based violence.¹⁸²

There are no rivers or streams on the islands and the groundwater supply is brackish and generally not safe for consumption.

During periods of drought, water security is a critical health issue in Tuvalu.

Due to its low-lying geography, Tuvalu is at acute risk from natural disasters, including rising storm surges, cyclones, and tsunamis. Seawater infiltration has already increased soil salinity, limiting the range of plants that can be grown on the islands. Increased water temperatures and ocean acidification have affected coral ecosystems that serve as fish nurseries, making it harder for Tuvaluans to catch and eat fish. Worsening environmental conditions are increasing the incidence of hunger and food insecurity. The Government and the people of Tuvalu are highly cognisant of the potential long-term negative impact of climate change on their country. The Tuvalu Survival Fund (TSF) was created in 2015 to finance recovery and rehabilitation from climate change impacts and natural disasters.

Treaty Ratifications: CEDAW, CRC, CRPD, ICADS

Resident and Non-resident Agencies: FAO, ILO, UNDP, UN Environment, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNISDR, UN Women, WHO, WMO

Coordination: Tuvalu Joint Presence Office

Te Kakeega III National Strategy for Sustainable Development “The TKIII vision foresees a more protected, secure and prosperous Tuvalu; healthier people who are more engaged in national, regional and international forums; and a government fully committed to honouring Tuvalu’s commitments and respecting its partnerships.”

• ¹⁷⁵ILO Decent Work Country Programme, Tuvalu, 2010-2012.
• ¹⁷⁶MDG Tracker 2015, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
• ¹⁷⁷The State of Human Development in the Pacific: Vulnerability in a time of rapid change, UNDP, 2014
• ¹⁷⁸Population and Development Profile: Asia Pacific Countries, UNFPA, 2014
• ¹⁷⁹ibid
• ¹⁸⁰Fact Sheet- Tuvalu ADB, 2016.
• ¹⁸¹IMF Country Report- Tuvalu 12/243 August 2014.
• ¹⁸²Demographic and Household Study, Tuvalu.

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