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Mata Utu is its capital and largest city. Wallis and Futuna is associated with theEuropean Union as anoverseas country and territory (OCT).[4] The territory's land area is 142.42 km2 (54.99 sq mi). It had a population of 11,151 at the July 2023 census (down from 14,944 at the 2003 census).[1] The territory is made up of three mainvolcanictropical islands and a number of tinyislets. It is divided into two island groups that lie about 260 km (160 mi) apart: theWallis Islands (also known asUvea) in the northeast; and theHoorn Islands (also known as the Futuna Islands) in the southwest, includingFutuna Island proper and the mostly uninhabitedAlofi Island.
The earliest signs of human habitation on these islands are artifacts characteristic of theLapita culture, dating roughly to between 850 and 800 BCE. The islands served as natural stopover points for boat traffic, mostly betweenFiji andSamoa. During Tongan invasions in the 15th and 16th centuries, the islands defended themselves with varying levels of resistance, but also accepted varying degrees of assimilation. Futuna retained more of its pre-Tongan cultural features, while Wallis underwent greater fundamental changes in its society, language, and culture.[6] The original inhabitants built forts and other identifiable structures on the islands (many of which are in ruins), some of which are still partially intact. Oral history and archaeological evidence suggests that the Tongan invaders re-occupied and modified some of these structures. The oral history also preserves a cultural memory of relationships between Samoa and Futuna that are so longstanding that they are described in the islanders' origin stories.[6]
Futuna was first put on European maps byWillem Schouten andJacob Le Maire, during theircircumnavigation of the globe, in 1616. They named the islands of Futuna "Hoornse Eylanden", after the Dutch town ofHoorn where they hailed from. This was later translated into French, as "Isles de Horne". The Wallis Islands are named after the British explorerSamuel Wallis, who sailed past them in 1767, after being the first European to visitTahiti.[7][8] The French were the first Europeans to settle in the territory,[9] with the arrival of Frenchmissionaries in 1837, who converted the population to Roman Catholicism.Pierre Chanel,canonized in 1954, is a majorpatron saint of the island of Futuna and of the region.
On 5 April 1842, the missionaries asked for the protection of France, after the uprising of part of the local population.[citation needed] On 5 April 1887, the queen ofUvea (of the traditionalchiefdom of Wallis) signed a treaty, officially establishing a Frenchprotectorate. The kings ofSigave andAlo (on the islands of Futuna andAlofi) also signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate, on 16 February 1888. From that moment, the islands were officially under the authority of theFrench colony ofNew Caledonia.
In 1917, the three traditional kingdoms of Uvea, Sigave, and Alo wereannexed by France, integrated into the colony of Wallis and Futuna, and remained under the authority of the colony of New Caledonia.[10]
A group of Wallisian people on Wallis Island (Uvea) photographed by sailors of the French ship Kersaint between 1907 and 1919
A few merchants and shipwreck survivors settled in Wallis and Futuna, but European presence only became significant in the 19th century with the arrival of Catholic missionaries in 1837. The two islands were converted to Catholicism by the Marist fathersPierre Chanel in Futuna andPierre Bataillon in Wallis.[11] Futuna experienced several conflicts between its two kingdoms, each wanting to dominate the other. This led to the Vai War, which caused around sixty deaths in total. In the 21st century, the population is predominantly Catholic.
QueenAmelia Tokagahahau of Wallis signed aprotectorate treaty, ratified by France on 5 April 1887. A year later, the kings of Futuna—Anise Tamole of Sigave and Setefano Tuikalepa of Alo—also requested attachment to France. The kings of Futuna and Wallis retained full customary authority over their subjects.[12] There was no true colonization in Wallis and Futuna, as the authority of the French resident was limited to external affairs. This situation continued in Futuna until 1961, as the administration only established itself on the island in 1959.[12] The inhabitants continued to live as they had before. In 1913, a proposal for annexation by France was presented by Resident Brochard, but it did not succeed. In 1922, annexation was considered too costly by France and was abandoned.[13]
The U.S. Army installs a military base in Wallis from May 1942 to June 1944.
The Second World War brought significant upheaval to Wallis. The island was first isolated for 17 months due to the loyalty of BishopAlexandre Poncet and Resident Léon Vrignaud to the Vichy regime. To counter theJapanese Empire during thePacific War, theFree French and then the Americans landed at Wallis at the end of May 1942. Units of theUS Marine Corps later landed on Wallis, on 29 May 1942.[14] The U.S. Army built a base and constructed numerous infrastructures. This introduction of consumer society and contact with Western lifestyles weakened customary, religious, and administrative authorities. Futuna, however, was not occupied by the Americans.[12]
After the departure of the GIs in 1944, returning to subsistence agriculture was difficult, and Wallis went through an economic and social crisis. This period also marked the beginning of migration toward theNew Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and New Caledonia, where a large Wallisian and Futunian community eventually settled.[15]
A plaque commemorating the attachment of Wallis and Futuna to the French Republic, on a public building inMata Utu
In 1959, the inhabitants of the islandsvoted to become a separateFrench overseas territory, effective since 29 July 1961,[5] thus ending their subordination to New Caledonia.[16]
In 2005, the 50thking of Uvea,Tomasi Kulimoetoke II, faced being deposed after giving sanctuary to his grandson who was convicted of manslaughter. The king claimed his grandson should be judged by tribal law rather than by the French penal system. As a result, there were riots in the streets involving the king's supporters, who were victorious over attempts to replace the king. Two years later, Tomasi Kulimoetoke died on 7 May 2007. There was a six-month period of mourning, during which mentioning a successor was forbidden.[17] On 25 July 2008,Kapeliele Faupala was installed as king despite protests from some of the royal clans. He was deposed in 2014. A new king,Patalione Kanimoa, was eventually installed in Uvea in 2016; Lino Leleivai in Alo on Futuna succeeded after Filipo Katoa abdicated, and Eufenio Takala succeeded Polikalepo Kolivai in Sigave. The French president at the time,François Hollande, attended the installation ceremony.
The territory is divided into three traditional kingdoms (royaumes coutumiers):Uvea, on the island of Wallis,Sigave, on the western part of the island of Futuna, andAlo, on the eastern part of the island of Futuna and on the uninhabited island of Alofi (only Uvea is further subdivided, into three districts):
^Alofi is virtually uninhabited; administratively it falls under Alo.
The capital of the collectivity isMata Utu on the island of Uvéa, the most populous of the Wallis Islands. As an overseas collectivity of France, it is governed under theFrench constitution of 28 September 1958, and has universalsuffrage for those over 18 years of age. TheFrench president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; thehigh administrator is appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior and heads the Territory Government; the president of the Territorial Assembly is elected by the members of the assembly. Themost recent election was held on 20 March 2022.[18]
As of 2023, the head of state is PresidentEmmanuel Macron of France, as represented by Administrator-SuperiorHervé Jonathan.[19] The president of the Territorial Assembly has beenMunipoese Muliʻakaʻaka since March 2022.[20] The Council of the Territory consists of three kings (monarchs of the three pre-colonial kingdoms) and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly.
The legislative branch consists of the unicameral 20-member Territorial Assembly orAssemblée territoriale. Its members are elected by popular vote, and serve five-year terms. Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to theFrench Senate and one deputy to theFrench National Assembly.
Criminal justice is generally governed by French law and administered by a tribunal of first resort in Mata Utu; appeals from that tribunal are decided by theCourt of Appeal inNouméa,New Caledonia. However, in non-criminal cases (civil-law disputes), the three traditional kingdoms administer justice according tocustomary law.
The territory includes the island of Uvéa (also called Wallis), which is the most populous; the island of Futuna; the virtually uninhabited island of Alofi; and 20 uninhabited islets. The total area of the territory is 274 km2 (106 sq mi), with 129 km (80 mi) of coastline. The highest point in the territory isMont Puke, on the island of Futuna, at 524 m (1,719 ft).
The islands have a hot, rainy season from November to April, when tropical cyclones passing over them cause storms. Then they have a cool, dry season from May to October, caused by the southeast trade winds that predominate during those months. The average annual rainfall is between 2,500 and 3,000 millimeters (98 and 118 inches), and rain is likely on at least 260 days per year. The average humidity is 80%. The average annual temperature is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F), rarely falling below 24.0 °C (75.2 °F); during the rainy season, it ranges between 28.0 and 32.0 °C (82.4 and 89.6 °F).
Only 5% of the islands' land area consists ofarable land; permanent crops cover another 20%.Deforestation is a serious problem: Only small portions of the original forests remain, largely because the inhabitants use wood as their main fuel source, and, as a result, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly susceptible toerosion. The island of Alofi lacks natural freshwater resources, so it has no permanent settlements.
Brown boobies watching over their nestsVarious fish caught in the Wallis lagoon (2012)A pig pen inFalaleu (Wallis)
On Wallis, 639 species of coastal fish have been identified. In freshwater environments, three species of crustaceans and four species of fish have been recorded (includingStiphodon rubromaculatus). Bats are the only native mammals, and the only amphibian present was introduced. The spiderSchizocosa vulpecula is also found there.
Pigs play an important role in Wallisian and Futunan culture, and many inhabitants raise them.[25]
In 2022, the National Biodiversity Observatory (ObservatoireNational de la Biodiversité, ONB) and a panel of experts identified a significant risk of extinction affecting the endemic vascular plants of Wallis and Futuna, placing this risk on the national Red List (liste rouge).[26] Among the seventeen species assessed in the territory as well as inSaint-Martin,Saint-Paul-et-Amsterdam, and theÎles Éparses, fifteen are directly threatened with extinction, the ONB warns.
Wallis and Futuna is vulnerable to climate change. Sand extraction by the local construction industry has accelerated coastal erosion. This phenomenon, combined with rising sea levels, is causing a reduction of habitable land, which will eventually require relocating populations further inland. However, the complex rules governing land use must be taken into account.[27]
Cyclones are becoming more frequent, and some now occur outside the usual season, such asCyclone Ella in 2017. Climate change may reduce agricultural production, increasing dependence on imported food products. To find appropriate solutions, it is essential to consider the cultural norms of the population and work through the social organization structured by the customary chieftainship.[27]
TheGDP of Wallis and Futuna in 2019 was US$212 million (at market exchange rates).[2] The territory's economy consists mostly of traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Additional revenue comes from French government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and France. Industries includecopra, handicrafts, fishing, and lumber. Agricultural products include coconuts,breadfruit, yams,taro, bananas, pigs, and fish.Exports includecopra, chemicals, and fish.
There is a single bank in the territory, Banque de Wallis-et-Futuna, established in 1991. It is a subsidiary ofBNP Paribas. There had previously been a branch ofBanque Indosuez at Mata Utu. It had opened in 1977, but was closed in 1989, leaving the territory without any bank for two years.
Wallis and Futuna's infrastructure includes a wharf inHalalo and another in Mata-Utu, allowing cargo ships to dock and unload the many imported goods. On Futuna, ships can access the island via the Sigave Bay, in calm weather.
Electricity was installed on the islands in 1987.[28] It is supplied mainly by gasoline-powered generators. In 2023, four photovoltaic solar power plants were installed inLavegahau,Falaleu, andVaitupu on Wallis, and one in Mamati on Futuna, supplying electricity to several hundred households.[29] New plants are planned for 2026, with the goal of reaching 50% renewable electricity by 2029. Several public buildings and businesses are also equipped with solar panels. The goal is at once energy independence, decarbonization of electricity production, and reduced public spending.[30]
High-speed internet was installed in 2007.[28] Telephone and internet services are managed by the Postal and Telecommunications Service (Service des postes et télécommunications, SPT), which works withOrange. In the 2020s, many residents began installingStarlink internet kits from the American companySpaceX.[31]
The total population of the territory at the July 2023 census was 11,151 (72.5% on the island of Wallis, 27.5% on the island of Futuna),[32] down from 14,944 at the July 2003 census.[33] The vast majority of the population are ofPolynesian ethnicity, with a small minority who were born inMetropolitan France or are of French European descent.
Lack of economic opportunities has, since the 1950s, been impelling many young Wallisians and Futunians to migrate to the more prosperous French territory ofNew Caledonia, where, as French citizens, they are legally entitled to settle and work. Since the mid-2000s, emigration has surged in response to political tensions on the main island of Wallis (Uvea), that have arisen from a feud between rival aristocratic clans, who are supporting competing kings. Emigrants have begun settling, not only in New Caledonia, but also much farther away, in Metropolitan France. At the 2019 New Caledonian census, 22,520 residents of New Caledonia (whether born in New Caledonia or in Wallis and Futuna) reported their ethnicity as "Wallisian and Futunian".[34] This is almost double the total population of Wallis and Futuna.
Languages spoken at home in Wallis and Futuna (2018 Census)[37]
Wallisian (59.1%)
Futunan (27.9%)
French (12.7%)
According to the 2018 census, among people 14 years and older, 59.1% reportedWallisian as the language they spoke the most at home (down from 60.2% in 2008), 27.9% reportedFutunan (down from 29.9% in 2008), and 12.7% reported French (up from 9.7% in 2008).[37][38] OnWallis Island, the languages most spoken at home were Wallisian (82.2%, down from 86.1% in 2008), French (15.6%, up from 12.1% in 2008), and Futunan (1.9%, up from 1.5% in 2008).[37][38] OnFutuna, the languages most spoken at home were Futunan (94.5%, down from 94.9% in 2008), French (5.3%, up from 4.2% in 2008), and Wallisian (0.2%, down from 0.8% in 2008).[37][38]
At the 2018 census, 90.5% of people 14 y/o and older could speak, read and write either Wallisian or Futunan (up from 88.5% at the 2008 census), and 7.2% had no knowledge of either Wallisian or Futunan (same percentage as at the 2008 census).[39][40]
Among those 14 y/o and older, 84.2% could speak, read and write French in 2018 (up from 78.2% at the 2008 census), and 11.8% reported that they had no knowledge of French (down from 17.3% at the 2008 census).[41][42] On Wallis Island, 85.1% of people age 14 or older could speak, read and write French (up from 81.1% at the 2008 census), and 10.9% reported that they had no knowledge of French (down from 14.3% at the 2008 census).[41][42] On Futuna, 81.9% of people age 14 or older could speak, read and write French (up from 71.6% at the 2008 census), and 14.0% had no knowledge of French (down from 24.3% at the 2008 census).[41][42]
The religion of Wallis and Futuna is Catholicism, ever sinceMarist missionaries converted the islands in the 1840s and 1842, bringing almost 100% of the population into the faith[43] and having been evangelized in the 19th century by FrPeter Chanel, SM.[44] They are served by their ownDiocese of Wallis and Futuna, with a see atMata Utu, asuffragan diocese of the MetropolitanArchdiocese of Nouméa (New Caledonia).[45] There are smaller numbers of people followingethnic religions, theBaháʼí Faith or who haveno religion.[46] Traditional religion was supplanted by Catholicism, which incorporated many elements of local beliefs and adapted to customary practices.[47] Even today—as has always been the case—religion plays a major role in the daily life of the population and has become integrated into local culture. Christianity replaced the deities of the traditional religion without completely destroying it: a certain level of acculturation or syncretism developed.
Religious festivals structure daily life and are occasions for customary ceremonies (katoaga). The Catholic mission also plays an important political role alongside the customary chiefdom. The special legal framework granted by the1961 statute recognizes the role of religion in the territory.[48] A few other Christian churches are also present, although they represent a very small minority.[49]
The Saint-Pierre-Chanel Basilica in Poi, on Futuna
The construction of churches in the territory can be considered an art form. All different from one another, and most are made of volcanic stone and are very colorful. They are found in every district and every village. All the stones are hand-carved. On Wallis, there are roughly 26 religious monuments, and on Futuna, there are 22. As the only monumental architecture in the territory, they form an integral part of the cultural heritage.
TheDiocese of Wallis and Futuna has one cathedral, located inMata Utu (Wallis), and one basilica dedicated to Peter Chanel located in Poi (Futuna).
Pigs lined up in front of the Sagato Soane royal palace in Mata Utu during akatoaga in Wallis
Customary festivals are extremely important in Wallis and Futuna. During these ceremonies, several pigs are sacrificed and offered as tributes to the King and to the entire chieftainship, following a well-established protocol. In Wallis, these ceremonies are calledkatoaga[50] and are deeply rooted in Wallisian culture, structuring daily life: they take place during religious celebrations (each district honors its patron saint annually), family events, or secular festivities such asBastille Day on 14 July or the Territory Day on 29 July.[51]
These customary festivals have ancient origins and have persisted throughout the territory’s history: “this is not a form of folklore for tourists, nor an attempt to reclaim a lost cultural heritage.”[50] Instead, it is an example of the circulation of goods following a logic of gift and counter-gift, similar to thepotlatch.
The culture of Wallis and Futuna isPolynesian, and is similar to the cultures of its neighboring nationsSamoa andTonga. TheWallisian andFutunan cultures are very similar to each other in language,dance, cuisine and modes of celebration.. The culture has been studied by several successive anthropologists. There is a Department of Cultural Affairs on the territory, located inAka'aka in the district ofHahake on Wallis.
Regarding Wallisian and Futunian culture, the anthropologist Dominique Pechberty writes:
"Wallis and Futuna are among the rare Polynesian islands to have preserved living customs that elsewhere have gradually disappeared during repeated contact with Westerners (...) This is not a form of folklore for tourists, nor an attempt to reclaim a cultural heritage in order to recover a lost identity."
Fishing and agriculture are the traditional occupations, and most people live in traditional oval, thatchfale houses.[52]Kava is a popular beverage brewed in the two islands, as in much else of Polynesia. It also serves as a traditional offering in rituals.[52] Highly detailedtapa cloth art is a specialty of Wallis and Futuna.[53]
Uvea Museum Association is a private museum that holds a collection of objects that record the history of the Second World War in the territory.[54] It is located in Mata Utu shopping center and in 2009 was open by appointment.[55]
Dancers from Hihifo during the July 13, 2019 competition with the coconut tree theme
Dances are an integral part of Wallisian and Futunan culture. Each year, the territory organizes traditional dance competitions, the best-known being theSoamako. One can also see at these competitions theNiutao,Kailao,Eke, and other dances. Most of the time, these are warrior dances.
The lyrics of the songs that accompany the dances are composed for each celebration or major event, so the musical repertoire is regularly renewed. Some dances are performed standing, while others are done seated. According to Raymond Mayer, “they constitute a social phenomenon that goes beyond mere musical and aesthetic analysis.”[56]
Tapa (mulberry-bark cloth) from FutunaTano‘a bowls, containers used for servingkava
Handicraft is very prominent on both islands.[57] Four main materials are used:
Wood (such asfeta'u) is used to create carvings that most often depict animals and nature.
Coconut (niu in Wallisian and Futunan) is highly valued for its oil. This oil is mixed with other flowers such astiare orylang-ylang to make the local scented oil, equivalent toMono’i.
Shells are used to make various necklaces and ornaments. Women—mainly organized into local associations—collect shells from the reef at low tide and use them to create necklaces, headbands, and other decorative objects.[58]
Lafi, a plant fiber, is used to makeSiapo (in Futuna) andgatu (in Wallis), better known astapa. This material is found on many Pacific islands. It can be decorative or used as clothing, particularly for weddings, or as a burial shroud.
Artistically speaking, the territory has a few painters, such as Aloisio Pilioko, Soane Takaniua,[59] and Rebecca Kulimoetoke. Several Wallisian and Futunan artists also live in New Caledonia and mainland France.
Virginie Tafilagi is the only Wallisian poet in the territory. She contributed to two collective works:Sillage d'Océanie 2009 with the Association of Writers of New Caledonia, andOutre-Mer: trois océans en poésie in 2011.[60]
A Wallisian music group, with singers and two musicians playing folk guitar andukulele.
The territory of Wallis and Futuna is characterized by significant musical production, ranging from traditional a cappella music calledHua lau, accompanied by wooden percussion, to variety music, pop, or reggae. Most songs are composed in Wallisian or Futunan language. Artists are produced locally.
Hua lau refers to the traditional singing performed by theLau, a polyphonic group, which can be mixed. The songs cover various themes: love stories, war, major historical events, death, etc. One of the musical characteristics of the territory lies in how death is treated in its songs. Families may ask composers to create funeral songs in memory of their deceased.
Raymond Mayer notes that “The repertoire of Wallisian songs is not cumulative but transitory: songs are born, become known, then die — gradually and definitively — through forgetting. This phenomenon of loss, or more precisely erasure through replacement, can be observed concretely in the texts of funeral songs.”[61]
In 2015, the first episode of the seriesFoha Tau (“Sons of War”) was filmed.[62] Initiated by the production company Cinemata (meaning “the eye of cinema”), this series is the first to be filmed entirely in Wallisian and tells the tales and legends of the South Pacific. The first season consists of three 60-minute episodes, broadcast in 2016 and 2017 on the French public television channelsWallis-et-Futuna andNouvelle-Calédonie La Première.
Released in 2016, Sacha Wolff’s filmMercenaire, which includes dialogue in Wallisian, tells the story of a young Wallisian rugby player leaving for mainland France.[63]
The island of Wallis has about 100 km (62 mi) of roadways, 16 of which are paved. The island of Futuna has only 20 km (12 mi) of roadways, none of which are paved. The territory has two main ports, in the harbors at Mata Utu andLeava (on the island of Futuna). These ports support itsmerchant marine fleet, which comprises three ships (two passenger ships and a petroleum tanker), totaling 92,060 GRT or 45,881 tonnes. There are two airports:Hihifo Airport, on Wallis, which has a 2.1 km (1.3 mi) paved runway; andPointe Vele Airport, on Futuna, which has a 1 km (0.62 mi) runway.[64] Now the only commercial flights to and from Wallis are operated by Caledonia-basedAircalin, which has an office in Mata Utu. There are currently no commercial boat operators.
Relay antenna andsatellite dish in Futuna, for telecommunicationsYoung Wallisian girls filming the territory’s festival with their mobile phones on July 28, 2017. Mobile telephony arrives in Wallis and Futuna at the end of 2015New logo of the channel Wallis-et-Futuna La Première since January 2018
From 1964 to 1971, the Information Bulletin of the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (Bulletin d'information du territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna) was published.[65] The French High Commission also published a local newspaper in the 1970s,Nouvelles de Wallis et de Futuna.[66] The weeklyTe Fenua Fo'ou stopped publication in March 2002 after a conflict between the chiefly system and the publication’s director, following an article in the magazine concerning a local judicial matter.[67]Fenua Magazine, launched in September 2002 to replace it, had a very different editorial line.[68] It also stopped publication in 2003.[69] Since then, the only daily newspaper available has beenLes Nouvelles calédoniennes, which publishes two or three articles per week about life in the territory.
Internet access has progressed, with 1,144 broadband subscribers at the end of 2011.[70]
In the 2000s, the archipelago’s connection to the global internet network was slow and expensive because it relied on satellite links. The arrival of the TUI-SAMOA[71] fiber-optic cable made it possible to connect Wallis and Futuna to the global internet with speeds comparable to the rest of the world.
Since December 22, 2015, Wallis and Futuna has had a mobile phone network calledManuia.[72] Before that date, Wallis and Futuna was the last French overseas territory without a mobile network. As journalist René Lataste summarizes:
"En quelques dizaines d'années, Wallis et Futuna auront fait un pas de géant dans la communication. Du Tauasu sous le fale depuis des siècles, au téléphone fixe dans les années 1960 puis à l'Internet 30 ans plus tard. Aujourd'hui, le mobile et demain une multiplication par 1 000 des connexions."
In just a few decades, Wallis and Futuna have made a giant leap in communication. From theTauasu under thefale for centuries, to the landline telephone in the 1960s, then the internet 30 years later. Today, mobile phones — and tomorrow, a thousandfold multiplication of connections.[72]
Historically, Catholic missionaries were the first to create a seminary and schools to train the local population. In 1933, the resident Jean-Joseph David attempted to open a public school, but the experiment failed after a few years.[73] Instruction was given in Wallisian and Futunian until 1961, then in French.[73] In 1969, ten years after the 1959 referendum establishing the overseas territory, an agreement was signed between the State, represented by the Prefect, and the Catholic mission, represented by the bishop, delegating primary education to theDiocese of Wallis and Futuna.[73]
In terms of education, the territory has the status of aVice-Rectorate.[74] However, from 1969 to 2025, primary education was entirely entrusted by the State to the Diocese of Wallis and Futuna. Thus, the 1905 separation of Church and State did not take place in the territory.[73] In 2025, the Catholic Church ceased managing primary education, which was transferred to the authority of the Vice-Rectorate.[75]
The training of local teachers had long been a demand among staff. For about thirty years, there was no institution in Wallis and Futuna to train primary school teachers. In the mid-1990s, a branch of theIUFM (Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres, University Institute for Teacher Training) was established in Wallis, with the aim of providing professional training comparable to that of teachers in mainland France. However, the IUFM branch closed in 2009, and training was transferred to New Caledonia.[73]
The Vaimoana middle school and vocational high school inLavegahau, on the island of Wallis.
Primary education in Wallis and Futuna is placed under the authority of the Catholic Education Directorate. The State funds the primary schools and reimburses the mission’s expenses. In 1969, there were nine primary schools; by 2012, there were 16 primary schools hosting 1,750 pupils supervised by 170 staff members.[73] and now there are 18 primary schools in the territory, 12 on Wallis and six on Futuna, with a combined total of over 5200 students.[76] This agreement is renewed every five years. Catechism is one of the subjects taught, and the Catholic religion is fully integrated into primary education, even though French laws reinforce secularism in schools, notably the law of 15 March 2004 banning religious symbols in classrooms. This remains an important point for the Wallisian and Futunan population, who are overwhelmingly Catholic.[73]
The State finances all expenses related to this education (teachers and operating costs), while the schools are built on the communal public land of the villages according to customary law and the legal system governing land use.
In primary school, the curricula are adapted from those taught in mainland France. Thus, in primary schools, French history is taught, while the history of Oceania and Polynesia before Western contact is not addressed.[73] According to Prinsen, Lotti and Worliczek (2022), this reflects the expression of a shared French nationality.[73] At the same time, a local identity is also asserted, complementing the metropolitan identity. Negotiations make it possible to adapt subjects and teaching methods on both sides. For example, teaching in the Wallisian and Futunan languages has been established and accepted by the State, while the Catholic Church has accepted the ban on corporal punishment.[73]
Collaboration among local teachers, local political authorities, members of the clergy, and metropolitan educational authorities benefits both sides: it increases the number of local employees, improves their salaries and training, and reduces costs for the French State compared to a fully public education system.
However, this process also involves confrontations and even conflicts between the two identities (local and metropolitan). Many Wallisians and Futunans would have preferred secondary education to be entrusted locally to the mission as well, rather than being separated.[73]
In addition, issues regarding salaries and unfulfilled contractual statuses were denounced by teachers in the 1990s, who went on strike multiple times. These conflicts often led to renegotiations of the convention between the mission and the State. The funding of maintenance works for buildings or school equipment is also a frequent point of contention between the mission and the State, as the cost of living is higher in Wallis and Futuna than in mainland France, and the tropical climate leads to quicker degradation of equipment and buildings. This is perceived by Wallisian and Futunan elites as unequal treatment by the metropolitan authorities.[73]
Deforestation is a major concern in the region as only small portions of the original forests remain due to the continued use of wood as the main source of fuel. Consequently, the mountainous terrain of Futuna has become prone to erosion. There are no permanent settlements on Alofi due to the lack of natural freshwater resources, and the presence of infertile soil on the islands of Uvea and Futuna further reduces agricultural productivity.[81]
A volleyball court in FutunaA young Wallisian training in rugby
Wallisians and Futunans make up 0.05% of the French population, but they "occupy a far more significant place in the sporting landscape than their demographic weight would suggest".[82]
Many sports are practiced in the territory, including athletics, with a particular specialization in thejavelin throw. Champions includeJean-Paul Lakafia, who twice improved the French javelin record—setting it at 83.56 m in 1980 and 84.74 m in 1983—Lolésio Tuita,Vitoli Tipotio,Monika Fiafialoto, Péta Tauhavili, Pételo Wakalina, Penisio Lutui, and in para-athleticsTony Falelavaki. Among medal-winning athletes is Aukusitino Hoatau, who notably won the silver medal in discus at the2011 Pacific Games. In 2019, Wallisians and Futunans made up seven of the 25 best French javelin throwers.[82]
In 2020, about thirty Wallisian and Futunan players played in professional French clubs in the Top 14 and Pro D2, and more than 200 played in metropolitan clubs (from elite to Federal 3 level).[82] There is alocal rugby union team (affiliated with theFederation of Oceania Rugby Unions), but it has not played an official match since 1979.
GeographerJean-Christophe Gay notes that “the army, in the 1960s, played an important role in identifying and developing the first international-level athletes,” such as Petelo Wakalina,Lolesio Tuita, and Penisio Lutui.[82] In 2007, theXV du Pacifique was created, an inter-army team bringing together players from Wallis and Futuna,New Caledonia, andFrench Polynesia.[86] Gay also notes that while some players succeed in mainland France, many fail or “are exploited like commodities by certain club managers or unscrupulous intermediaries”[82]
Volleyball is one of the most widely played sports in the territory and has seen strong growth since the 1980s.[87] Players—often from the same families (Tupou, Takaniko, Kolokilagi, Moleana, Masei, Sekeme, Tafilagi)—includeLeyla Tuifua andSamuele Tuia, both of whom played for the French national team,[87] as well asToafa Takaniko.
There is also a local football (soccer) team. Several players from Wallis and Futuna play in mainland France and other countries, such asWesley Lautoa (FCO Dijon) andDavid Faupala at Manchester City.
In 2006,Jennifer Vegi won the bronze medal at the French Contact Karate Championships, and in 2007 she won the gold medal in taekwondo at the Pacific Games.
The territory of Wallis and Futuna participates in thePacific Games (formerly called the South Pacific Games).[88] In 2013, the territory organized and hosted, for the very first time, thePacific Mini Games.
A nautical base is located in the village ofLiku. A sports association, Vakala, offers water activities (notably sailing and kayaking). Athletics and other sports such as volleyball, handball, and badminton are practiced at the Kafika sports center, renovated for the2013 Pacific Mini Games.
^abSand, Christophe (2006). "A View from the West: Samoa in the Culture History of 'Uvea (Wallis) and Futuna (Western Polynesia)".The Journal of Sāmoa Studies.2:5–15.
^abcSoulé, Marc (2008). "Les bouleversements de la société coutumière lors de la présence américaine à Wallis (1942 - 1946)". In Boubin-Boyer, Sylvette (ed.).Révoltes, conflits et Guerres mondiales en Nouvelle-Calédonie et dans sa région. L'Harmattan.ISBN9782296051225.
^Rottman, Gordon L. (2002).U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945. London:Bloomsbury Academic. p. 213.ISBN978-0-313-31906-8.
^Delannoy, Jean-Pierre (2005).Les religions au parlement français: du général de Gaulle (1958) à Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1975). Editions du CERF. pp. 65,150–152.ISBN978-2-204-07852-8.
^Talatini, Filihau Asi (2004). ""Lotu mavae" : identité religieuse en mutation à Wallis et Futuna". In Huffer, Elise; Tui, Mikaele (eds.).Uvea. University of the South Pacific/Service des Affaires Culturelles de Wallis.ISBN978-982-02-0363-1.
^Observatoire des Pêches Récifales et secrétariat général de la Communauté du Pacifique,Wallis-et-Futuna. Rapport de pays. Profils et résultats des enquêtes réalisées à Vailala, Halalo, Leava et Vele (août-décembre 2005 et mars 2006), SPC FAME Digital Library, 2009, pp. 122-124,ISBN9789820003125
^Glowczewski, Barbara; Dousset, Laurent; Salaün, Marie (28 March 2018).Les sciences humaines et sociales dans le Pacifique Sud: Terrains, questions et méthodes. pacific-credo Publications.ISBN978-2-9563981-3-4.
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