Long-form name: none

Type: independent state, special member of the Commonwealth

Capital: Funafuti

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 1 October 1978 (from UK; formerly Ellice Islands)

Constitution: 1 October 1978

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Branches: executive--prime minister and cabinet; unicameral legislature--12-member House of Parliament; judicial--High Court, eight island courts with limited jurisdiction

Leaders: Tupua LEUPENA, Governor General (since 1 March 1986); Dr. Tomasi PUAPUA, Prime Minister (since September 1981)

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: last general election September 1985, next scheduled for September 1989

Political parties: none

Member of: ESCAP (associate member), GATT (de facto), SPF, SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador (vacant); US--none

Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

NOTE: The information regarding Tuvalu on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tuvalu Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tuvalu Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.