Tuvalu

Polynesia

Oceania

One of the world's smallest and lowest-lying nations - a chain of coral atolls where the highest point sits about 4.5m above sea level, giving it an outsized stake in global climate diplomacy and, via the .tv domain-licensing deal, an unusual revenue stream for a country this size; but it has no university, a tiny formal job market, and almost everything beyond fish and coconuts is imported.

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Overall score

Insufficient data · 58% data coverage

Language

Tuvaluan, English

Currency

AUD

Citizenship

No investment route; naturalisation is discretionary and case-by-case

Personal tax

Progressive, low rates on a small formal-sector economy

Cost of living

$800 / mo (single; nearly everything is imported)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

44Residence12%

18Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

–Salary and work12%

52Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

60Taxes7%

33Business8%

50Investment5%

Daily life

25%

51Quality of life18%

65Education7%

–

Rights and institutions

13%

–Freedom6%

–Rule of law7%

Pros

Country-wide comparison coverage
Local residence and work pathways available

Cons

Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle

Best for

Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

–

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

–

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

100

Infrastructure

–

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

–

Rule of law

–

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock2.6% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-0.40 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	No investment route; naturalisation is discretionary and case-by-case
Dual allowed	Depends on route and existing nationality
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: No investment route; naturalisation is discretionary and case-by-case; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Moderate

Data not available yet

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Data not available

–

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Moderate

GNI / person$9,850 PPP (2023)

Price level97 (US = 100) (2021)

Income inequality39.1 Gini (2010)

Inflation0.5% / yr (2011)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Limited

Price level97 (US = 100) (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$800 / mo (single; nearly everything is imported)
Cities	Funafuti

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$62.3M (2023)

GDP / person$6,345 (2023)

GNI / person$9,850 PPP (2023)

GDP growth3.9% / yr (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation0.5% / yr (2011)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture15.9% of GDP (2015)

Industry7.0% of GDP (2015)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Data not available yet

Type	Data not available yet
Key sectors	Data not available yet
Summary	Data not available yet
Currency	Data not available yet

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, low rates on a small formal-sector economy
Corporate	Flat rate for resident companies
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, low rates on a small formal-sector economy
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Moderate

Corporate	Flat rate for resident companies
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Limited

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-0.40 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness-0.69 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Data not available

–

Salary & work

Data not available

–

Business

Limited

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Limited

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Limited

Personal safety

Homicide rate18.3 per 100,000 (2012)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption0.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability1.47 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy67.3 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality19.2 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians1.35 per 1,000 (2020)

Hospital beds4.16 per 1,000 (2001)

Health spending$1,671 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

100

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure5.2 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Data not available

–

Digital infrastructure

Internet use35.2% (2017)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Good

Attainment

Expected schooling12.4 years (2023)

Mean schooling10.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment19% gross (2023)

Education spending12.8% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	No local university; tertiary study is abroad (often via USP)
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Tuvaluan, English
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Good

HDI0.689 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy67.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling12.4 years (2023)

Mean schooling10.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025