Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation in the Pacific Ocean, formerly known as the Ellice Islands. It is a United Nations member state with the country codes TUV (ISO alpha-3) and TV (ISO alpha-2), and UN M49 code 798. The UN M49 grouping places Tuvalu in the region of Oceania and the subregion of Polynesia. The World Bank capital field lists Funafuti as the seat of government.

The key distinction when researching Tuvalu: statistical grouping (how the UN classifies Tuvalu) is not the same as political or territorial claims, and every changing figure, population count, GDP, currency exchange rate, and visa rule has a reference year and a source. For a full comparison framework, see the country comparison guide.

Stable identifiers

Attribute	Value
UN M49 code	798
ISO alpha-2	TV
ISO alpha-3	TUV
UN region	Oceania
UN subregion	Polynesia
UN membership	Member state
World Bank capital field	Funafuti

These identifiers come from the United Nations M49 standard and the World Bank’s country API. M49 is a statistical coding standard, not a political statement. It groups nations for data purposes and does not adjudicate sovereignty, recognition, or territorial claims. ISO alpha-2 TV and alpha-3 TUV are the codes used for internet country-code top-level domains (.tv), vehicle registration, and international identifiers. The World Bank capital field is a data convention; it reflects the nation’s designated seat of government, not a UN ruling. For the authoritative list of M49 codes and names, see the UN Statistics Division M49 overview. For World Bank country codes and API metadata, see the Bank’s developer portal.

Population and demographics

Population figures for Tuvalu change slowly but are not frozen in time. The most reliable figure is the one published by the national statistics office, with the year of the census or estimate clearly stated. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes annual estimates; the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook also carry figures, but each uses its own methodology and reference date.

As of the 2022 census (the most recent national census as of this writing), Tuvalu’s usually resident count was 10,876. This figure was published by the Tuvalu Central Statistics Division. Because small-island communities are affected by migration and by the timing of censuses, any number you cite should carry its source and year. For an up-to-date estimate, the World Bank API is a stable reference: the country endpoint returns metadata, and the indicator endpoint (e.g., SP.POP.TOTL) provides annual estimates. The UN Population Division also publishes periodic revisions; the 2024 revision is the current standard. Tuvalu is one of the least populous sovereign states, and the census count is the baseline for all later projections. Do not mix the census year with an intercensal estimate without noting the source and year.

Seat of government

Funafuti is the name of both the atoll and the main islet that serves as the administrative centre. The World Bank country profile lists Funafuti in its country metadata. Because administrative centres can be relocated by national legislation, verify the current location through the Tuvalu government’s gazette or the UN member state profile if you need a formal citation.

Languages

Tuvaluan and English are the two languages with formal status. Tuvaluan is an Austronesian language spoken by the vast majority of residents; English is used in government and education. For current speaker numbers or language policy changes, check the Tuvalu national statistics office or the UNESCO education and culture data. Census figures for language use are not collected every year; the most recent census may be several years old when you read this.

Currency

The Australian dollar (AUD) serves as the domestic currency. Tuvalu also issues its own non-legal-tender collector coins, but the everyday circulating currency is the Australian dollar. For exchange rates and currency code details, refer to the issuing authority (Reserve Bank of Australia) and the IANA/ISO maintenance agencies. Do not assume the Tuvaluan dollar is a separate circulating currency; it exists mainly as commemorative coinage.

Government and economy

Tuvalu is a parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm. The head of state is the monarch of Tuvalu, currently King Charles III, represented locally by a governor-general. The head of government is the prime minister. There are no formal political parties; candidates typically stand as independents.

The economy is small and heavily reliant on fishing licence fees, the Tuvalu Trust Fund, remittances from Tuvaluans working abroad, and revenue from the sale of the .tv internet domain. There is very little arable land; most food is imported. The World Bank groups Tuvalu as an upper-middle-income economy, but the categorisation is based on gross national income per capita and does not reflect the nation’s vulnerability to climate change, isolation, or the narrowness of its economic base.

Tuvalu has no standing army. The police service and maritime surveillance unit handle internal security. Its foreign policy and defense arrangements involve periodic consultation with Pacific partners, but the details change, so current agreements should be checked with government sources.

How to verify current figures

Population, GDP, and visa rules change faster than any static profile can capture. The method below keeps the numbers attributable to a named source and year.

Population estimates

The UN Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections for Tuvalu. The World Bank also reports population, but the two sources may differ by a few thousand because they use different projection models and update schedules. Always write the reference year next to the figure. For example, instead of saying “Tuvalu’s population is about 11,000,” say “The World Bank population estimate for Tuvalu in [year] was [number].” The UN M49 overview lists Tuvalu under Oceania, subregion Polynesia, with the code 798. The World Bank country API returns the nation’s name, capital (Funafuti), region, and income level, but it does not provide a real-time population figure; for population use the World Bank’s population indicator or the UN World Population Prospects, and always name the reference year.

Economic indicators

For GDP, GNI per capita, and trade figures, the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and the IMF’s World Economic Outlook databases are the standard references. Each dataset carries a specific reference year. When citing a figure, pair it with the year and the edition of the database (e.g., “IMF WEO October 2024 estimate for 2023”). Do not treat a projection as an observed value.

Travel and visa requirements

Visa rules, entry permits, and health declaration requirements for Tuvalu are set by the Tuvalu Department of Immigration. Check the department’s website or the nearest Tuvalu consular office for current requirements before travel. Do not rely on a static profile; entry rules can change with little notice.

Classification facts (stable)

• UN M49 code: 798
• ISO alpha-2: TV
• ISO alpha-3: TUV
• UN region: Oceania
• UN subregion: Polynesia
• UN member state
• World Bank capital field: Funafuti

What these codes do

UN M49 is a statistical grouping, not a political or territorial claim. The code 798 identifies Tuvalu in UN datasets; it does not settle boundary or sovereignty questions. ISO alpha-2 TV and alpha-3 TUV are the codes used for internet country-code top-level domains (.tv), vehicle registration, and international identifiers. The World Bank capital field is a data convention; it reflects the nation’s designated seat of government, not a UN ruling. For the authoritative list of M49 codes and names, see the UN Statistics Division M49 overview. For World Bank country codes and API metadata, see the Bank’s developer portal.