Background: Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

NOTE: The information regarding Wallis and Futuna on this page is re-published from the 2001 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Wallis and Futuna Introduction 2001 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Wallis and Futuna Introduction 2001 should be addressed to the CIA.