Tuvalu is located in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and Australia. It is composed of nine islands, most of which are low-lying coral atolls that are spread over 680 kms of ocean. The total land area is just 26 square kilometres, making it the fourth-smallest country in the world. The population is estimated at around 11,500 people (2025), making it the third-least populous sovereign state globally. 

Tuvalu is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The British monarch is Tuvalu’s head of state and is represented locally by a Governor-General. Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest national economies by output and population, yet its economy is unusually complex for its size. The main industries are fisheries licensing, revenue from the .tv domain, remittances and development aid.

Tuvalu has no regular armed forces. Domestic security lies with the Tuvalu Police Force (TPF), which also includes a Maritime Surveillance Unit (MSU). Australia and New Zealand are Tuvalu’s principal security and development partners. Both countries provide police training, maritime logistics, disaster relief assistance and bilateral aid.  Climate change is the defining foreign-policy and national-security concern for Tuvaluan leaders.