What is the capital of Tuvalu?
Funafuti is an atoll of numerous islets; its main islet, Fongafale, hosts Vaiaku, the administrative centre of the nation.
Funafuti is the capital and seat of government of Tuvalu, a role it has held since 1978. Tuvalu itself has an estimated population of 9,492 (2025).
Funafuti is also the largest city in Tuvalu, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Funafuti at a glance
| City population | 6,602 (2022) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu |
| Capital since | 1978 |
| Largest city in Tuvalu | Funafuti |
| Time zone | UTC+12:00 |
| Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) |
About Funafuti
Funafuti has been the capital of Tuvalu since 1978, when Funafuti was chosen as the administrative capital of the newly founded nation of Tuvalu.
First sighted by Europeans in 1819 and named Ellice's Island, the atoll was occupied by American forces in October 1942 as a staging ground for the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, during which its lagoon harbour was dredged and its airfield, now Funafuti International Airport, was built.
More people live on Funafuti than in the rest of Tuvalu combined: roughly 60 percent of the nation's population.
Cyclone Bebe caused extensive damage to the atoll in October 1972.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Funafuti.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Tuvalu?
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What is the population of Funafuti?
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See the full profile of Tuvalu on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.