Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collectivity in Polynesia. Its administrative capital is Mata-Utu on Wallis, also called Uvea.

Find Wallis and Futuna

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Mata-Utu
Languages: French, Wallisian & Futunan
Currency: CFP franc (XPF)
Population: 11,1512023 Census · INSEE–STSEE
Area: 142 km²54.83 square miles
Status: French overseas collectivitySeparate territory since 1961.

Wallis and Futuna in context

Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Mata-Utu; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

Volcanic origin; low hills.

Languages

French is official. Wallisian and Futunan are widely spoken Polynesian languages.

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Flag

Unofficial local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; a small flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper-left corner

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

History & status

The islands have longstanding Polynesian kingdoms. France established protectorates over Wallis in 1887 and Futuna in 1888. Following a referendum, the islands became a separate French overseas territory in 1961. They are now an overseas collectivity of France, where French institutions coexist with the customary kingdoms of Uvea, Alo and Sigave.

1887
Wallis becomes a French protectorate
1888
Futuna becomes a French protectorate
1961
The islands become a separate French overseas territory
2003
Wallis and Futuna becomes an overseas collectivity

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

Economy

Main activities

Public employment and transfers from France are major economic supports. Subsistence agriculture, fishing, construction, retail and remittances also contribute. Limited export production, isolation and the small local market restrict private-sector growth. Many people with ties to the islands live in New Caledonia or elsewhere.

Industry and production

Public services, subsistence agriculture, fishing, construction and retail.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

Population

11,151 · 2023 Census · INSEE–STSEE

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

Government

An overseas collectivity of France. An elected Territorial Assembly handles local responsibilities and a senior Administrator represents the French state. The customary kingdoms of Uvea, Alo and Sigave retain recognized roles alongside French institutions.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

Knowledge check

Three questions about Wallis and Futuna.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Wallis and Futuna: Wallis becomes a French protectorate?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · INSEE · 2023 Census

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.