Polynesia · OceaniaTuvalu
Discover Tuvalu - the world's fourth-smallest country, a fragile chain of coral atolls in the Pacific whose existence is threatened by rising seas, yet whose spirit remains unbroken.
Where Is Tuvalu?
Tuvalu is a country in Polynesia, Oceania. Its capital is Funafuti.
- Capital Funafuti
- Population 9.49K
- Area 26 km²
Tuvalu is the world's fourth-smallest country by area and among the most vulnerable nations on Earth. Nine coral atolls and reef islands, barely rising above the Pacific Ocean, are home to around 11,000 people living on a total land area of just 26 square kilometers. The highest point in the entire country is about 4.5 meters above sea level. When global leaders debate climate change in abstract terms, Tuvaluans are watching the ocean creep into their homes, contaminate their fresh water, and swallow their ancestors' graves.
Yet Tuvalu is far more than a climate tragedy. The Tuvaluan people have lived on these atolls for thousands of years, developing a communal culture built around fishing, coconut cultivation, and a deep connection to the sea that surrounds them. The country gained an unexpected revenue stream when it sold its internet domain .tv to a Californian company for millions of dollars - a surreal twist where the country's name became one of its most valuable assets. Funafuti, the capital atoll, is a narrow strip of land where everyone knows everyone, the pace of life is set by the tides, and the community pulls together in a way that larger nations can only envy.
At a glance
Largest cities in Tuvalu
Funafuti
Vaiaku
Famous people from Tuvalu
Toaripi Lauti
PoliticsFirst Prime Minister of Tuvalu who led the country to independence from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in 1978
Enele Sopoaga
PoliticsFormer Prime Minister who became one of the world's most passionate climate advocates, delivering powerful speeches at UN summits
Traditional cuisine of Tuvalu
- Pulaka
- Giant swamp taro grown in pits dug into the coral, the traditional starch of Tuvalu, increasingly threatened by saltwater intrusion
- Coconut and Fish
- The dietary foundation of Tuvalu - fresh reef fish with coconut in every form: cream, grated, oil, and fresh drinking water
- Toddy
- Sweet coconut sap collected from cut flower stalks, drunk fresh as a nutritious morning drink or left to ferment
Nature and landmarks in Tuvalu
- Funafuti Conservation AreaCoast
- Marine protected area covering 33 square kilometers of reef, lagoon, and six uninhabited islets on the western side of Funafuti
- Funafuti LagoonCoast
- One of the largest enclosed lagoons in the Pacific at 275 square kilometers, shimmering turquoise and central to Tuvaluan life
- Nanumea AtollIsland
- Northernmost atoll of Tuvalu with WWII relics, traditional culture, and one of the most remote communities in the Pacific
Sports in Tuvalu
- Te Ano (Traditional Ball Game)
- Traditional Tuvaluan sport played between village sides during celebrations, a uniquely Pacific game of community competition
- Football
- Football is the most popular modern sport, with Tuvalu competing in Pacific Games despite having one of the world's smallest populations
Did you know?
Tuvalu earned millions by selling its .tv internet domain to a Californian company, making the country's name one of its most valuable resources
The entire country is smaller than most airports - just 26 square kilometers spread across nine atolls
Funafuti's airstrip doubles as the main gathering place, sports field, and social hub when no planes are landing
Tuvalu's highest point is about 4.5 meters above sea level, making it one of the most climate-vulnerable nations on Earth
With roughly 11,000 people, Tuvalu is one of the least-populated countries in the world, along with Vatican City and Nauru
In 2021, Tuvalu's foreign minister delivered a speech at COP26 standing knee-deep in seawater to illustrate the reality of rising seas
Can you find Tuvalu on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Tuvalu and its neighbours without a second thought.
