Tuvalu

The Republic of Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) northeast of Fiji and west of Samoa. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 11,992 makes it the world's fourth-smallest country in terms of population. It is the smallest member of the Commonwealth of Nations in terms of land area and population. In terms of physical geography, Tuvalu is one of the flattest and smallest countries in the world. It is composed of nine coral atolls, three of which – Nanumea, Niutao, and Vaitupu – have lagoons open to the sea. The land area of Tuvalu is 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi), making it the fourth smallest country in the world after Vatican City, Monaco, and Nauru. The atolls of Tuvalu are spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line. The climate of Tuvalu is tropical, and the temperature does not vary much throughout the year. The average temperature is 26.7 °C (80.1 °F), and the average rainfall is 101.6 cm (40.1 in). The people of Tuvalu are ethnically Polynesian, and the official languages are Tuvaluan and English. The majority of the population (96.4%) is Christian. A minority (3.6%) adhere to other religions, including the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. The economy of Tuvalu is based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. The sale of stamps and coins is a significant source of revenue for the government. The country is also heavily dependent on foreign aid, with Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom being the main donors. The Tuvaluan way of life is based on the traditional Polynesian culture, which places emphasis on family, community, and the land. In recent years, there has been a trend towards Westernization, with a growing number of Tuvaluans moving to urban areas and adopting Western lifestyles.