Tuvalu History

One of the Smallest Countries Gets Smaller

Tuvalu, one of the smallest countries in the world, has gotten smaller, according to scientists. Already just about a third of the size of Manhattan, with less than 12,000 people inhabiting it, Tuvalu's lowest point was just above sea level in 2012.

The National Research Council in the United States predicted that by 2100 global sea levels would rise 55 inches due to climate change. If that prediction holds true, the rising sea levels could damage the country's coral roots and wipe out Tuvalu altogether. By 2012, there was already coastal erosion, a result of the rising sea level, excavation for construction, and extreme weather.