Tuvalu

About this destination

Tuvalu, called the Ellice Islands until 1 October 1978, is a Polynesian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean south of Kiribati, north of Fiji and Wallis and Futuna, and east of the Solomon Islands. It is one of the most remote countries in the world and, after Vatican City and Nauru, the country with the smallest population. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II and Tuvalu is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Besides the sale of stamps and the leasing of fishing grounds, Tuvalu lived mainly off development aid. In 2000, however, the appealing internet top-level domain .tv was released for 50 million dollars (this equates to 4,000 dollars per inhabitant).