Tonga

hereditary constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 June 1970 (from UK)

Tonga as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNuku'alofa
LocationOceania, Polynesia, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about
1994

Every edition of Tonga

Populationas each edition published it
104,778 people July 1994 est. · 101,313 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.79% 1994 est. · 0.8% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 19.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 67.79 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.62 children per woman 1994 est. · 3.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
20.79 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 24 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,000 1993 est. · $900 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4% 1993 est. · 0.4% in 1993

Geography

Oceania, Polynesia, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about | two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand

24 fields
Coastline
419km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Oceania, Polynesia, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Map references

Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

748 sq km

land area

718 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

continental shelf

not specified

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Climate

  • tropical;
  • modified by trade winds;
  • warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Natural resources

fish, fertile soil

arable land

25%

permanent crops

55%

meadows and pastures

6%

forest and woodland

12%

other

2%

current issues

deforestation

natural hazards

subject to cyclones (October to April)

international agreements

party to - Marine Life Conservation

Note

archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

People

21 fields
Population
104,778
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.79% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
24.76Death
6.75Net migration
-10.14
Literacy
15
age · and over can read and write simple message in Tongan or English (1976)

Infant mortality rate

20.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

67.97 years

male

65.64 years

female

70.43 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.62 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Tongan(s)

adjective

Tongan

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Religions

Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Languages

Tongan, English

total population

57%

male

60%

female

60%

by occupation

agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)

Government

Hereditary constitutional monarchy

25 fields

conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form

Tonga

former

Friendly Islands

Type

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital

Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions

three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence

4 June 1970 (from UK)

National holiday

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution

4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Suffrage

all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21

chief of state

King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)

head of government

Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)

cabinet

Cabinet; appointed by the king

Privy Council

consists of the king and the cabinet

Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

  • elections last held 14-15 February 1990 (next to be held NA February 1993);
  • results - percent of vote NA;
  • seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic Party, leader NA

Member of

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US

Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

US diplomatic representation

the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga and makes periodic visits

Flag

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the | labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla | beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,000
(1993 est.)
Real growth rate
4%
(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.5% (FY92); accounts for 11% of GDP
External debt
$47.5million
(FY91)

Overview

The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the island remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit.

The economy continued to grow in 1993 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $200 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$36.4 million

expenditures

$68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$18.8 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)

commodities

vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil, squash

partners

Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY91)

Imports

$68.3 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.)

commodities

food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals

partners

NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY91)

capacity

6,000 kW

production

8 million kWh

consumption per capita

80 kWh (1990)

Industries

tourism, fishing

Agriculture

  • accounts for 40% of GDP;
  • dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production;
  • vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

recipient

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258 million

Currency

1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti

Exchange rates

pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.3934 (November 1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2809 (1990), 1.2637 (1989),

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June

Communications

12 fields

total

366 km

paved

272 km (198 km on Tongatapu; 74 km on Vava'u)

unpaved

94 km (usable only in dry weather)

Ports

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Merchant marine

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,761 GRT/10,597 DWT, cargo 1, liquefied gas 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

total

6

usable

6

with permanent-surface runways

1

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

1

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

1

Telecommunications

  • 3,529 telephones;
  • 66,000 radios;
  • no TV sets;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV;
  • 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, | Tongan Royal Guards, Police

2 fields

Branches

Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tonga.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tonga/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →