Tuvalu is a small group of nine islands (eight of which are inhabited) in the Pacific, midway between Australia and Hawaii. Having a total land surface area of approximately 27 square kilometres, it supports a current population of a little over 10,000 persons.

Having achieved independence in 1978, Tuvalu is a self-governing Commonwealth Realm. Since that time, its governmental processes have been quite stable.

Tuvalu, one of the smallest nations in the world, is heavily supported by Australia and New Zealand. Its main income is derived from fishing licences, expatriates living abroad and, significantly, the leasing of its internet domain of “.tv” to overseas interests.

Four of the nine islands of Tuvalu are reef islands and the remaining five are atolls. Most noticeably, the highest point on the islands is reported to be only 5 metres above sea level, making this nation extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels, as may result from global warming.

Official languages are English and Tuvaluan, with Samoan and Kiribati also spoken.

By the 1920s, religious conversion to Christianity was virtually complete and remains so to the present.