GeoRealityMatch
A man stands by the turquoise waters of a tropical beach in the Maldives, enjoying the serene ocean view.Woman standing in a desert landscape, looking at distant mountains, wearing a hat and backpack.

Tuvalu

Oceania · Polynesia

Medium development

The air is clean. Life expectancy is short.

Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$9,780national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 150% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 57% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parity

$0$4.0K$8.0K$6,759 PPP$6,041200620102015202020252006, $2,414 a person, $2,814 at PPP2007, $2,804 a person, $3,051 at PPP2008, $3,062 a person, $3,270 at PPP2009, $2,662 a person, $3,064 at PPP2010, $3,055 a person, $2,981 at PPP2011, $3,680 a person, $3,221 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2012, $3,559 a person, $3,142 at PPP2013, $3,524 a person, $3,297 at PPP2014, $3,518 a person, $3,416 at PPP2015, $3,353 a person, $3,778 at PPP2016, $3,779 a person, $4,008 at PPP2017, $4,167 a person, $4,237 at PPP2018, $4,467 a person, $4,442 at PPP2019, $5,059 a person, $5,205 at PPP2020, $5,030 a person, $5,205 at PPP2021, $6,043 a person, $5,552 at PPP2022, $5,415 a person, $5,403 at PPP2023, $5,144 a person, $5,904 at PPP2024, $5,884 a person, $6,366 at PPP2025, $6,041 a person, $6,759 at PPP$0$4.0K$8.0K200620102015202020252006, $2,414 a person, $2,814 at PPP2007, $2,804 a person, $3,051 at PPP2008, $3,062 a person, $3,270 at PPP2009, $2,662 a person, $3,064 at PPP2010, $3,055 a person, $2,981 at PPP2011, $3,680 a person, $3,221 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2012, $3,559 a person, $3,142 at PPP2013, $3,524 a person, $3,297 at PPP2014, $3,518 a person, $3,416 at PPP2015, $3,353 a person, $3,778 at PPP2016, $3,779 a person, $4,008 at PPP2017, $4,167 a person, $4,237 at PPP2018, $4,467 a person, $4,442 at PPP2019, $5,059 a person, $5,205 at PPP2020, $5,030 a person, $5,205 at PPP2021, $6,043 a person, $5,552 at PPP2022, $5,415 a person, $5,403 at PPP2023, $5,144 a person, $5,904 at PPP2024, $5,884 a person, $6,366 at PPP2025, $6,041 a person, $6,759 at PPP

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
67.3years, at birthLow
#153 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
65WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.7PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Woman standing in a desert landscape, looking at distant mountains, wearing a hat and backpack.
How it changed

Tuvalu's Human Development Index

0.689Medium human development

129th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 9th of 15 in Oceania.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #126Iraq0.695
  2. #128Tajikistan0.691
  3. #129Tuvalu0.689
  4. #130Bangladesh0.685
  5. #130India0.685
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.566 in 1990 to 0.689 in 2023.

0.500.630.750.68919902000201020231990: 0.5661991: 0.5701992: 0.5661993: 0.5791994: 0.5861995: 0.5871996: 0.5871997: 0.5951998: 0.6051999: 0.6082000: 0.6102001: 0.6132002: 0.6212003: 0.6212004: 0.6212005: 0.6212006: 0.6252007: 0.6302008: 0.6362009: 0.6352010: 0.6362011: 0.6412012: 0.6422013: 0.6472014: 0.6502015: 0.6582016: 0.6642017: 0.6682018: 0.6722019: 0.6812020: 0.6812021: 0.6812022: 0.6862023: 0.6890.500.630.7519902000201020231990: 0.5661991: 0.5701992: 0.5661993: 0.5791994: 0.5861995: 0.5871996: 0.5871997: 0.5951998: 0.6051999: 0.6082000: 0.6102001: 0.6132002: 0.6212003: 0.6212004: 0.6212005: 0.6212006: 0.6252007: 0.6302008: 0.6362009: 0.6352010: 0.6362011: 0.6412012: 0.6422013: 0.6472014: 0.6502015: 0.6582016: 0.6642017: 0.6682018: 0.6722019: 0.6812020: 0.6812021: 0.6812022: 0.6862023: 0.689

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
67.3 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 64.1 years in 2005
Urban population
65%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 15 points from 51% in 2006
Births per woman
3.172024births per womanDown 0.38 from 3.55 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
5%2022of energy usedUp 5 points from 0% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 5 points from 96% in 2005
Infant mortality
172024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 16 from 32 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
33%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

The case for living here is clean air. The case against is short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Tuvalu

Tuvalu is one of the world's smallest and most isolated countries, a low-lying Pacific atoll nation with a Polynesian culture centred on communal life, traditional navigation, and the sea. The atolls sit barely above sea level and the sense of ocean dominance is total. It is visited by almost no one and suits only the most dedicated of far-flung travellers.

Practical facts

  • CapitalFunafuti
  • LanguagesEnglish, Tuvaluan
  • CurrencyAustralian dollar (AUD)
  • Area30 km²
  • Plug typeType I
  • Drives on theleft
Weigh Tuvalu against your priorities
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Quick answers

What is Tuvalu's Human Development Index?

Tuvalu's Human Development Index is 0.689 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #129 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Tuvalu?

Life expectancy at birth in Tuvalu is 67.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #153 of 195 countries.