Tuvalu has nine islands: five coral atolls, three table reef islands, and one atoll/reef island. The
landmass of only 25.3 km2is spread over an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 749,790 km2
. The population is about 11,500, of which 60 % live on the main (capital) island of Funafuti. The land mass
is entirely low lying with the latest reported, highest (natural) elevation level at 6.54 meters above
sea level. Communities are reliant on subsistence agriculture and fisheries which also underpin a
large part of the national economy.