◼◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼◼◼◼, officially the Territory of the ◼◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼◼◼◼ Isl◼◼◼s ( ), is a French isl◼◼◼ collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, ◼◼◼ Tokelau to the northeast. Mata Utu is its capital ◼◼◼ largest city. ◼◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼◼◼◼ is associated with the European Union as an overseas country ◼◼◼ territory (OCT). The territory's l◼◼◼ area is 142.42 km2 (54.99 sq mi). It had a population of 11,151 at the July 2023 census (down from 14,944 at the 2003 census). The territory is made up of three main volcanic tropical isl◼◼◼s ◼◼◼ a number of tiny islets. It is divided into two isl◼◼◼ groups that lie about 260 km (160 mi) apart: the ◼◼◼◼◼◼ Isl◼◼◼s (also known as Uvea) in the northeast; ◼◼◼ the Hoorn Isl◼◼◼s (also known as the ◼◼◼◼◼◼ Isl◼◼◼s) in the southwest, including ◼◼◼◼◼◼ Isl◼◼◼ proper ◼◼◼ the mostly uninhabited Alofi Isl◼◼◼. Since 28 March 2003, ◼◼◼◼◼◼ ◼◼◼ ◼◼◼◼◼◼ has been a French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Between 1961 ◼◼◼ 2003, it had the status of a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). Its official name did not change with the change in its status.