Wallis and Futuna has lost a fifth of its population in ten years

On July 22, 2013, the reference date of the last population census, the islands of Wallis and Futuna had 12,197 inhabitants. Since 2003, the islands have lost 2,750 people, i.e. 18% of their population. This substantial drop can be explained by a decrease in the birth rate and by the high level of emigration. The absence of higher education programmes and the fewer job opportunities have resulted in many young people aged between 20 and 34 leaving the islands. Consequently, the remaining population is ageing and the size of families is shrinking. Nevertheless, those households are much better equipped than was the case at the previous census.