Nukufetau

Nukufetau is an atoll in Tuvalu in the central Pacific Ocean. It is part of Tuvalu’s archipelago and forms the Nukufetau District. The atoll consists of a ring of low-lying coral islets surrounding a central lagoon, with a total land area measured in only a few square kilometers. Most settlements are located on a subset of the islets.

Historically, Nukufetau was settled by Polynesian navigators prior to European contact. It was among the Ellice Islands that came under British administration as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in the 19th and 20th centuries. Following independence in 1978, it became part of Tuvalu. The population is predominantly Tuvaluan, and the community maintains traditional practices such as navigation, canoe building, and subsistence farming, with Christianity as the dominant religion.

Economically, Nukufetau relies on subsistence farming, fishing, and copra production, with limited cash income and external trade. Transportation to the atoll is mainly by sea from Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu, with local travel conducted by small boats between the islets. Facilities on Nukufetau include basic schools, a clinic, and churches, with services concentrated on the primary inhabited islets.

The natural environment is vulnerable to tropical storms and sea-level rise, as with other low-lying Pacific atolls. Conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihood initiatives are relevant to the community’s long-term wellbeing.