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Geography and Population
- Tuvalu is an archipelagic country in the Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and Australia.
- Composed of three reef islands and six atolls, it lies between latitudes 5° and 10° south.
- The 2022 census recorded a population of 10,643, making it the 2nd least populated UN country.
- Total land area is 25.14 square kilometers, making it the 4th smallest country globally.
History
- First inhabited by Polynesians around three thousand years ago, spreading from Samoa and Tonga.
- First European contact was by Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568.
- Became a British protectorate in 1892 and later part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1916.
- Gained independence in 1978 and became a Commonwealth member; Charles III is the current monarch.
Economy and Environment
- Relies on food imports and fishing; fishing permits and remittances are economic key components.
- Vulnerable to sea level rise, actively participates in international climate negotiations.