Tuvalu

Tuvalu
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	173rd best
Capital	Funafuti
Land Area	30km21
Location	Australasia, Polynesia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	11 5082
Life Expectancy	64.55yrs (2017)3
GNI	$6 351 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	TV, TUV, 7985
Internet Domain	.tv6
Currency	Dollar (AUD)7
Telephone	+6888

1. Overview
2. Tuvalu National and Social Development
3. Tuvalu's Demographics and Migration
4. Tuvalu's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Tuvalu's Health
6. Tuvalu's Modernity and Learning
7. The Natural Environment
8. Economic Inequality and Poverty
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#new_zealand

“In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Approaching Tuvalu by plane, after miles of dull ocean, a dazzling smear of turquoise appears, ringed with coral and studded with palm-topped islets - a vulnerable Pacific paradise. The landmass of Fongafale, Tuvalu´s main island, is so startlingly narrow that as the plane nears the airstrip it seems as if it´s about to tip into the ocean.

Unfortunately, environmental concerns have focused international attention on Tuvalu. As an atoll nation, the major long-term ecological threat to Tuvalu comes from global warming and rising sea levels. As well as shoreline erosion, water bubbles up through the porous coral on which the islands are based, and causes widespread salt contamination of areas used to grow staple crops. Over the past few years, king tides - the biggest swells of the year - have been higher than ever. If sea levels continue to rise as predicted, the islands could be wiped off the face of the earth.

What will happen to the population if Tuvalu does start to go under? New Zealand currently accepts 75 migrants a year and has said it will absorb Tuvalu´s population if it comes to that.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Tuvalu National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
127	Bhutan	0.666
128	Cape Verde	0.662
129	Bangladesh	0.661
130	Tuvalu	0.641
131	Marshall Islands	0.639
132	India	0.633
133	Ghana	0.632
134	Micronesia	0.628
	Australasia Avg	0.70
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
126	Tonga	$6 822
127	India	$6 590
128	Palestine	$6 583
129	Tuvalu	$6 351
130	Belize	$6 309
131	Cape Verde	$6 230
132	Ghana	$5 745
133	Nicaragua	$5 625
	Australasia Avg	$12 519
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Norway	25.2
2	Denmark	26.1
3	Taiwan	26.6
	...
170	Nigeria	94.0
171	Comoros	94.5
172	N. Korea	95.0
173	Tuvalu	95.2
174	S. Sudan	95.5
175	Eritrea	96.0
176	Pakistan	96.3
177	Guinea-Bissau	96.9
	Australasia Avg	79.7
	World Avg	70.6
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Tuvalu's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Tuvalu's population is predicted to fall to 11 000 by 2030.

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
188	Marshall Islands	58 413
189	St Kitts & Nevis	52 441
190	Monaco	38 682
191	Liechtenstein	37 910
192	San Marino	33 785
193	Palau	17 907
194	Tuvalu	11 508
195	Nauru	10 670
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration:

Immigrants13
Pos.		2017 %13
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
143	Niger	1.4%
144	Yemen	1.4%
145	Bolivia	1.3%
146	Tuvalu	1.3%
147	Malawi	1.3%
148	Sierra Leone	1.3%
149	Guinea-Bissau	1.3%
150	Vanuatu	1.2%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

4. Tuvalu's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Australasia (2020)14
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank14
1	New Zealand	17.5
2	Australia	24.1
3	Fiji	102.4
	...
7	Palau	131.0
8	Tonga	132.9
9	Marshall Islands	134.6
10	Samoa	136.1
11	Vanuatu	138.2
12	Kiribati	138.4
13	Cook Islands	144.5
14	Tuvalu	158.8
15	Solomon Islands	166.6
	Australasia Avg	120.0
q=15.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)14
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank14
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
	...
192	Cook Islands	144.5
193	Mauritania	144.7
194	N. Korea	146.8
195	Brunei	147.1
196	Sudan	148.8
197	Tuvalu	158.8
198	Somalia	159.8
199	Solomon Islands	166.6
	World Avg	87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₁₅. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu₁₅.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₅, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia₁₅.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better16
Pos.		2009 Treaties16
1	Argentina	24
2	Chile	23
3	Costa Rica	23
	...
182	Brunei	6
183	Tonga	6
184	Pakistan	6
185	Tuvalu	5
186	Micronesia	5
187	Singapore	5
188	Nauru	5
189	Marshall Islands	4
	Australasia Avg	8.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better17
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty17
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
188	Kiribati	15.80
189	Solomon Islands	15.81
190	Nauru	16.16
191	Sao Tome & Principe	16.17
192	Tuvalu	16.33
193	Palau	16.34
194	Marshall Islands	16.34
195	Palestine	17.21
	Australasia Avg	14.35
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		0 Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
148	Papua New Guinea	1964
149	Lesotho	1965
150	Botswana	1965
151	Tuvalu	1967
152	Kiribati	1967
153	Ecuador	1967
154	Swaziland	1968
155	Nauru	1968
	Australasia Avg	1962
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality Higher is better18
Pos.		2017 Score18
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
177	Angola	-30
178	Uzbekistan	-30
179	Tonga	-30
180	Tuvalu	-30
181	Mauritania	-32
182	UAE	-34
183	Kuwait	-37
184	Algeria	-37
	Australasia Avg	07.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better19
Pos.		202119
1	Belgium	1.0
2	Netherlands	1.0
3	Taiwan	1.0
	...
102	Moldova	3.0
103	Serbia	3.0
104	Cyprus	3.0
105	Tuvalu	3.0
106	Mexico	3.0
107	El Salvador	3.0
108	Cambodia	3.0
109	Zambia	3.3
	Australasia Avg	2.6
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Tuvalu's Health

#alcohol #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #Tuvalu #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)20
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank20
1	Solomon Islands	82.0
2	Australia	84.6
3	Kiribati	87.0
	...
7	Niue	98.7
8	Tonga	104.1
9	Samoa	107.8
10	Tuvalu	112.5
11	Micronesia	114.2
12	Papua New Guinea	120.8
13	Cook Islands	123.7
14	Nauru	134.8
15	Palau	146.0
	Australasia Avg	109.4
q=16.

Health (2020)20
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank20
1	Monaco	13.0
2	Hong Kong	18.3
3	Maldives	41.0
	...
158	Haiti	111.4
159	Madagascar	111.5
160	Yemen	112.0
161	Tuvalu	112.5
162	Philippines	112.9
163	Niger	113.1
164	Congo, DR	113.1
165	Somalia	113.1
	World Avg	93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives₂₁. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau₂₁.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean₂₁, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa₂₁.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Health:

Tuvalu does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Tuvalu does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate₂₂ and in its immunizations take-up₂₃. And finally, it does worse than average in terms of its average life expectancy₁₁ (one of the worst in Australasia). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Tuvalu improved by just +2.6yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
150	Sudan	65.3
151	Ethiopia	65.0
152	Tuvalu	64.5
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
	Australasia Avg	70.11
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better22
Pos.		2016 Per Capita22
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
35	Tonga	1.5
36	Lebanon	1.5
37	Chad	1.6
38	Tuvalu	1.7
39	Madagascar	1.9
40	Tunisia	1.9
41	Bahrain	1.9
42	Qatar	2.0
	Australasia Avg	4.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Overweight Adults Lower is better24
Pos.		2016 %24
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
184	Tonga	78.5
185	Kiribati	78.7
186	Niue	80.0
187	Tuvalu	81.9
188	Marshall Islands	83.5
189	Cook Islands	84.7
190	Palau	85.1
191	Nauru	88.5
	Australasia Avg	73.3
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better23
Pos.		2015 Avg %23
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
69	Macedonia	95.2
70	Belize	95.1
71	Algeria	95.0
72	Tuvalu	94.9
73	Eritrea	94.7
74	Singapore	94.6
75	UK	94.6
76	Solomon Islands	94.5
	Australasia Avg	86.4
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

6. Tuvalu's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)25
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank25
1	New Zealand	17.6
2	Australia	19.2
3	Palau	59.3
	...
8	Nauru	99.0
9	Marshall Islands	102.8
10	Samoa	103.4
11	Vanuatu	117.0
12	Micronesia	131.3
13	Kiribati	143.0
14	Tuvalu	148.0
15	Papua New Guinea	150.4
16	Solomon Islands	152.7
	Australasia Avg	98.1
q=16.

Modernity & Learning (2020)25
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank25
1	Finland	8.4
2	Taiwan	10.0
3	Switzerland	15.1
	...
191	Gambia	144.0
192	Cambodia	144.6
193	Central African Rep.	146.3
194	Tuvalu	148.0
195	Equatorial Guinea	149.3
196	Papua New Guinea	150.4
197	Chad	150.6
198	Niger	151.0
	World Avg	83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

In the 2010s, Tuvalu decreased its expected duration of education by 1.3 years, which was the fourth-largest decrease of any country in that decade. ₂₆

Length of Schooling Higher is better27
Pos.		2021 Years27
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
175	Ethiopia	9.7
176	Sierra Leone	9.6
177	Gambia	9.4
178	Tuvalu	9.4
179	Mauritania	9.4
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
182	Burkina Faso	9.1
	Australasia Avg	13.4
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better28
Pos.		2017 Ratio28
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
116	New Caledonia	0.0
117	Maldives	0.0
118	Tunisia	0.0
119	Tuvalu	0.0
120	Marshall Islands	0.0
121	Georgia	0.0
122	Swaziland	0.0
123	Mongolia	0.0
	Australasia Avg	1.55
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

7. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 Higher is better29
Pos.		2015 %29
1	Iceland	+205.6
2	Bahrain	+144.4
3	Uruguay	+131.3
	...
80	Japan	00.0
81	Afghanistan	00.0
82	Yemen	00.0
83	Tuvalu	00.0
84	Libya	00.0
85	Tonga	00.0
86	Maldives	00.0
87	Vanuatu	00.0
	Australasia Avg	+03.4
	World Avg	+02.8
q=184.

Convention on Biological Diversity Earlier is better
Pos.		0 Signed
1	China	1993 Dec 29
2	Guinea	1993 Dec 29
3	Cook Islands	1993 Dec 29
	...
184	Kuwait	2002 Oct 31
185	Bosnia & Herzegovina	2002 Nov 24
186	Afghanistan	2002 Dec 18
187	Tuvalu	2003 Mar 20
188	Thailand	2004 Jan 29
189	Montenegro	2006 Jun 03
190	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2007 Jan 08
191	Brunei	2008 Jul 27
	Australasia Avg	1899 Dec 30
	World Avg	1899 Dec 30
q=197.

8. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better30
Pos.		2017 %30
1	Ukraine	25.0
2	Belarus	25.4
3	Slovenia	25.4
	...
90	China	38.6
91	Samoa	38.7
92	Israel	38.9
93	Tuvalu	39.1
94	Ethiopia	39.1
95	Morocco	39.5
96	Uruguay	39.5
97	Sri Lanka	39.8
	Australasia Avg	38.3
	World Avg	38.1
q=152.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₃₁:

Christian	96.7%
Muslim	0.1%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	1.3%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 98.4% (Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%), Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%₃₂.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems

There isn't much information in the database for Tuvalu, most likely because it is either a part of another country (i.e., a territory or possession) and therefore most international statistics are counted for the country as a whole, or, this is such an exotic place that little data exists about it.