Background:
The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

NOTE: The information regarding Wallis and Futuna on this page is re-published from the 2009 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Wallis and Futuna Introduction 2009 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Wallis and Futuna Introduction 2009 should be addressed to the CIA.