Countries beginning with W: List of countries that start with the letter W!

Do you know which countries have names that begin with the letter W? There aren't many, but they do exist. Here's a complete list of countries that start with the letter W, along with some information about each one.

Countries beginning with W

Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna is a French archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,600 km northeast of New Zealand. It comprises three main islands: Wallis (or Uvea), Futuna, and Alofi. It has a population of around 11,000, who are predominantly Catholic and speak Wallisian or Futunan, two Polynesian languages. Wallis and Futuna is an overseas collectivity with a special status, granting it considerable autonomy. The head of state is the President of the French Republic, represented by a senior administrator. Executive power is exercised by a government council elected by the territorial assembly. Legislative power rests with the territorial assembly, composed of 20 members elected by universal suffrage. Judicial power is vested in the Court of Appeal of Nouméa, in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna also has three customary kingdoms: Uvea, Sigave, and Alo, each with its own king and council of elders. Wallis and Futuna is known for its cultural and natural heritage, including its traditional dances, Baroque churches, archaeological sites, and lagoons.

Western Samoa

Western Samoa is the official name of the country commonly known as Samoa. It is an independent state located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 3,200 km northeast of Australia. It consists of two main islands: Upolu and Savai'i, as well as several smaller islands. It has a population of approximately 200,000, who are predominantly Christian and speak Samoan, a Polynesian language. Western Samoa is a parliamentary republic, headed by the Tama Aiga (Parliamentary Chief) Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II. Executive power is vested in a prime minister, elected by the Fono (parliament). Legislative power rests with the Fono, composed of 51 members elected by universal suffrage. Judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country. Western Samoa is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States. Western Samoa is known for its rich and varied culture, including traditional tattoos, fire dances, polyphonic singing, and water sports.

Glossary

• Archipelago: a group of islands close to each other.
• Baroque: an artistic style characterized by exuberance, movement, and a profusion of detail.
• Overseas collectivity: legal status assigned to certain French territories located outside the European continent.
• Commonwealth of Nations: an intergovernmental organization comprising 54 independent states that share historical ties with the United Kingdom.
• Lagoon: a shallow body of water separated from the sea by a coral reef or a strip of sand.
• Polynesian: relating to Polynesia, a geographical region comprising several archipelagos in the South Pacific.
• Parliamentary republic: a political system in which the head of state is elected by parliament or by an electoral college, and the head of government is responsible to parliament.
• Tama aiga: honorary title given to the four noble families of Samoa, who have the right to designate the head of state.