Capital of Tuvalu: Funafuti
The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti. Tuvalu sits in Oceania, has a population of 11,312, and uses the AUD. Official languages include Tuvaluan, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Funafuti
- Continent: Oceania
- Population: ~11,312
- Area: 26 km²
- Population density: 435 people per km²
- Official languages: Tuvaluan, English
- Currency: AUD
- ISO code: TV
How big is Tuvalu?
By population, Tuvalu ranks 196th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 194th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Tuvalu has 435 people per square kilometre, which is about 7.3 times the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Oceania, Tuvalu is the 14th most populous country of 14.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Tuvalu in population are Nauru (12,668) and Palau (18,055).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Nauru (21 km²) and Monaco (2 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Tuvaluan is listed as an official language of Tuvalu alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
The AUD is not unique to Tuvalu — it is also used by Australia, Kiribati and Nauru. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Tuvalu in Oceania
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Oceania is the block Tuvalu belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Tuvalu and a page on the flag of Tuvalu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Tuvalu?
The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti.
What is the population of Tuvalu?
About 11,312, making it the 196th most populous country in the world.
How big is Tuvalu?
26 square kilometres, ranking 194th by land area, at a density of 435 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Tuvalu use?
The AUD, shared with 3 other countries.