• Solomon Islands!

    Solomon Islands: Looking up at palm trees. Go Now!

    Solomon Islands
    This Melanesian country is best known for its many islands and beaches... and this natural landscape (pictured) is why most people go. Don't miss out on the unique Melanesian culture and foods though! Begin Your Journey!

  • Tonga!

    Tonga: Coastline. Go Now!

    Tonga
    The heart of Polynesian culture is rooted in Tonga, but most visitors just come for the natural beauty. Explore Tonga!

  • Vanuatu!

    Vanuatu: Jetty into the ocean. Go Now!

    Vanuatu
    Picturesque serenity is a good way to describe Vanuatu, but the culture offers much more, including the inspiration for bungee jumping, which remains a rite of passage for young men. Explore Vanuatu!

  • Palau!

    Palau: "70 Islands!" Go Now!

    Palau
    Few people have even heard of this small Micronesian country, but those who have often return with stories of beauty unmatched elsewhere, such as view of the "70 Islands" (pictured). Go Now!

  • Explore the: Federated States of Micronesia!

    Federated States of Micronesia: Overlooking some islands. Go Now!

    Federated States of Micronesia
    This diverse country stretches for thousands of miles and has the diversity to prove it, including the people from Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Yap among others. Begin Your Journey!

  • Samoa!

    Samoa: A traditional home. Go Now!

    Samoa
    Among the most famous of the South Pacific's many countries, Samoa sits in the heart of Polynesia and has a culture to match. Begin Your Journey!

Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Tuvalu

Ethnicity

Nearly everyone in Tuvalu is an ethnic Polynesian, more specifically a Tuvaluan. The Polynesians, who are a group of people that are related to the Melanesians and Austronesians among others, occupy much of the South Pacific. Tuvaluans are closely related to other Polynesians, including the Samoans, Tongans, and are more distantly related to others, such as the Maori of New Zealand and the Hawai'ians in the United States.

Language

Tuvaluan and English are official languages in Tuvalu, but Samoan and Gilbertese (or i-Kiribati) are also spoken on some islands. Few people natively speak English as this European language is essentially just a language of communication and is important in some industries such as the government and tourism.

Tuvaluan is a member of the Austronesian language family and is more specifically a Polynesian language. Its closest linguistic relatives are Polynesian languages in nearby islands, more specifically those Polynesian languages isolated in Micronesia and Melanesia. However Tuvaluan also shares many similarities with Samoan and to a lesser extent Tongan, Hawai'ian, Maori, and the languages of the Cook Islands and French Polynesia.

Religion

Nearly everyone in Tuvalu is a member of the Church of Tuvalu, a Congregational Christian Church. Only about 3% of the people follow differing faiths, which primarily including the Seventh-Day Adventists and the Baha'i.

This page was last updated: May, 2014