ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Tuvalu. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Tuvalu. Citizens of Tuvalu can change their government democratically. Tuvalu, along with several other Pacific Island nations, received a request in November from Australia to shelter asylum seekers from the Middle East whom Australia refused to accept. Tuvalu is one of 16 countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which urges national action and international cooperation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. In July, Tuvalu appealed to Australia and New Zealand to help resettle its population in the event that the islands are threatened by rising sea levels.
