Tuvalu
geographical name
Tu·va·lu tü-ˈvä-(ˌ)lü 
-ˈvär-(ˌ)ü
variants or formerly Ellice Islands
ˈe-lis
islands in the western Pacific north of Fiji capital Funafuti area 10 square miles (26 square kilometers), population 11,100 see gilbert and ellice
Note: Tuvalu was a British territory 1976–78 and became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1978.