Economy - overview:
Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. Only eight of the atolls are inhabited. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, with its highest point at 4.6 meters above sea level. The country is isolated, almost entirely dependent on imports, particularly of food and fuel, and vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, which pose significant challenges to development.

The public sector dominates economic activity. Tuvalu has few natural resources, except for its fisheries. Earnings from fish exports and fishing licenses for Tuvalu’s territorial waters are a significant source of government revenue. In 2013, revenue from fishing licenses doubled and totaled more than 45% of GDP.

Official aid from foreign development partners has also increased. Tuvalu has substantial assets abroad. The Tuvalu Trust Fund, an international trust fund established in 1987 by development partners, has grown to $104 million (A$141 million) in 2014 and is an important cushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. While remittances are another substantial source of income, the value of remittances has declined since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but has stabilized at nearly $4 million per year. The financial impact of climate change and the cost of climate related adaptation projects is one of many concerns for the nation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$42 million (2017 est.)
$40.68 million (2016 est.)
$39.48 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 226
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$40 million (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
9.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 107
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2017 est.)
$3,700 (2016 est.)
$3,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 180
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
government consumption: 87% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -66.1% (2016 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 24.5% (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 5.6% (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 70% (2012 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coconuts; fish

Industries:
fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
-26.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 202
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
3,615 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 225
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Unemployment rate:
NA
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
26.3% (2010 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: NA
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 42.68 million (2013 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 32.46 million (2012 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia

Taxes and other revenues:
106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 1
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 1
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
37% of GDP (2017 est.)
47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 142
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 162
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
10.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 79
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$0 (2014)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 124
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
$2 million (2017 est.)
$8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 65
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$600,000 (2010 est.)
$1 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 220
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
US 18.2%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 17%, Fiji 14.8%, Nigeria 14.2%, Germany 8.2%, South Africa 5.9%, Colombia 5.1% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
copra, fish

Imports:
$20.69 billion (2018 est.)
$19.09 billion (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 74
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
Singapore 33.4%, South Korea 11.5%, Australia 10.8%, NZ 8%, Fiji 7.5%, Chile 6.1%, South Africa 5%, Japan 5% (2017)

Debt - external:
NA
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)