The Human Truth Foundation

Tuvalu

http://www.humantruth.info/tuvalu.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#tuvalu

Tuvalu
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index194th best
CapitalFunafuti
Land Area 30km21
LocationAustralasia, Polynesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population11 5082
Life Expectancy64.55yrs (2017)3
GNI$6 351 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesTV, TUV, 7985
Internet Domain.tv6
CurrencyDollar (AUD)7
Telephone+6888

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

Book CoverApproaching 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
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
127Bhutan0.666
128Cape Verde0.662
129Bangladesh0.661
130Tuvalu0.641
131Marshall Islands0.639
132India0.633
Australasia Avg0.70
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
126Tonga$6 822
127India$6 590
128Palestine$6 583
129Tuvalu$6 351
130Belize$6 309
131Cape Verde$6 230
Australasia Avg$12 519
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
190Angola127.6
191Equatorial Guinea128.7
192Afghanistan129.8
193S. Sudan130.6
194Tuvalu135.9
195Somalia145.7
Australasia Avg102.8
World Avg86.1
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.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
190Monaco38 682
191Liechtenstein37 910
192San Marino33 785
193Palau17 907
194Tuvalu11 508
195Nauru10 670
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
149Marshall Islands65.3
150Sudan65.3
151Ethiopia65.0
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)14
Pos.
%14
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
143Niger1.4%
144Yemen1.4%
145Bolivia1.3%
146Tuvalu1.3%
147Malawi1.3%
148Sierra Leone1.3%
World Avg9.4%
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)15,16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15,16
1New Zealand17.5
2Australia24.1
3Fiji102.4
4Papua New Guinea122.4
5Nauru123.4
...
9Marshall Islands134.6
10Samoa136.1
11Vanuatu138.2
12Kiribati138.4
13Cook Islands144.5
14Tuvalu158.8
15Solomon Islands166.6
Australasia Avg120.0
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)15,16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15,16
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
193Mauritania144.7
194N. Korea146.8
195Brunei147.1
196Sudan148.8
197Tuvalu158.8
198Somalia159.8
199Solomon Islands166.6
World Avg87.7
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:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR (2009)17
Pos.Higher is better
Treaties17
1Argentina24
2Chile23
3Costa Rica23
4Ecuador23
5Germany23
...
182Brunei6
183Tonga6
184Pakistan6
185Tuvalu5
186Micronesia5
187Singapore5
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag (2019)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Yrs/Treaty18
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
4Colombia3.68
5Costa Rica4.05
...
189Solomon Islands15.81
190Nauru16.16
191Sao Tome & Principe16.17
192Tuvalu16.33
193Palau16.34
194Marshall Islands16.34
Australasia Avg14.35
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Pos.Lower is better
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
4Norway1913
5Denmark1915
...
148Papua New Guinea1964
149Lesotho1965
150Botswana1965
151Tuvalu1967
152Kiribati1967
153Ecuador1967
Australasia Avg1962
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality (2017)19
Pos.Higher is better
Score19
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
4Brazil81
5Spain79
...
177Angola-30
178Uzbekistan-30
179Tonga-30
180Tuvalu-30
181Mauritania-32
182UAE-34
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought (2021)20
Pos.Lower is better20
1Belgium1.0
2Netherlands1.0
3Taiwan1.0
4Sao Tome & Principe1.3
5Ecuador1.3
...
102Moldova3.0
103Serbia3.0
104Cyprus3.0
105Tuvalu3.0
106Mexico3.0
107El Salvador3.0
Australasia Avg2.6
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Tuvalu's Health

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

Compared to Australasia (2020)21,22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21,22
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
4New Zealand88.8
5Fiji90.6
6Vanuatu97.1
7Niue98.7
8Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)21,22
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21,22
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
158Haiti111.4
159Madagascar111.5
160Yemen112.0
161Tuvalu112.5
162Philippines112.9
163Niger113.1
164Congo, DR113.1
World Avg93.5
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:

Health:

Tuvalu does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Tuvalu does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate23 and in its immunizations take-up24. And finally, it does worse than average in its average life expectancy11 (amongst the worst in Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
149Marshall Islands65.3
150Sudan65.3
151Ethiopia65.0
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
Australasia Avg70.11
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)23
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita23
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
35Tonga1.5
36Lebanon1.5
37Chad1.6
38Tuvalu1.7
39Madagascar1.9
40Tunisia1.9
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Overweight Adults (2016)25
Pos.Lower is better
%25
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)24
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %24
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
69Macedonia95.2
70Belize95.1
71Algeria95.0
72Tuvalu94.9
73Eritrea94.7
74Singapore94.6
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Tuvalu's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Australasia (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1New Zealand17.6
2Australia19.2
3Palau59.3
4Tonga75.2
5New Caledonia75.5
...
10Samoa103.4
11Vanuatu117.0
12Micronesia131.3
13Kiribati143.0
14Tuvalu148.0
15Papua New Guinea150.4
16Solomon Islands152.7
Australasia Avg98.1
q=16.
Modernity and Learning (2020)16
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank16
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
191Gambia144.0
192Cambodia144.6
193Central African Rep.146.3
194Tuvalu148.0
195Equatorial Guinea149.3
196Papua New Guinea150.4
197Chad150.6
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling (2021)26
Pos.Higher is better
Years26
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
175Ethiopia9.7
176Sierra Leone9.6
177Gambia9.4
178Tuvalu9.4
179Mauritania9.4
180Tanzania9.2
Australasia Avg13.4
World Avg13.5
q=193.

Technology and Information:

IPv6 Uptake (2017)27
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio27
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
116New Caledonia0.0
117Maldives0.0
118Tunisia0.0
119Tuvalu0.0
120Marshall Islands0.0
121Georgia0.0
Australasia Avg1.55
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)28
Pos.Higher is better
%28
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
80Japan00.0
81Afghanistan00.0
82Yemen00.0
83Tuvalu00.0
84Libya00.0
85Tonga00.0
Australasia Avg+03.4
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
184Kuwait2002 Oct 31
185Bosnia & Herzegovina2002 Nov 24
186Afghanistan2002 Dec 18
187Tuvalu2003 Mar 20
188Thailand2004 Jan 29
189Montenegro2006 Jun 03
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

8. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #inequality #social_development

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
%29
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
90China38.6
91Samoa38.7
92Israel38.9
93Tuvalu39.1
94Ethiopia39.1
95Morocco39.5
Australasia Avg38.3
World Avg38.1
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 below30:

Christian96.7%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated1.3%

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%31.

Links: