Tonga
Kingdom of Tonga
hereditary constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
Tonga as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 92 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about | two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
18 fieldsLand useshare of 748 sq km
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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
Environment - current issues
- deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement;
- some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors;
- overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- NA male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- NA male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- NA male(s)/female
- total population:
- NA male(s)/female
Government
Hereditary constitutional monarchy; King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965); Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
18 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Tonga
- conventional short form:
- Tonga
- former:
- Friendly Islands
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
- cabinet :
- Cabinet appointed by the king
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet
- elections:
- none;
- the king is a constitutional monarch;
- prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 1999)
- election results :
- percent of vote - NA; seats - 7 proreform, 2 traditionalist
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal
International organization participation
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London; consulate(s) general : San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Economy
The economy's base is agriculture, which | contributes 36% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans | are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of | total exports.
22 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1994)
Economy - overview
The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 36% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for only 13% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit.
The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects, but contracted in 1995-96. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.
Current proposals include selling Tongan citizenship and passports to foreigners, leasing its seven equatorial satellite spots, and setting up a joint venture gas production facility with South Korea.
Exports
- total value :
- $15.25 million (f.o.b., 1995)
- commodities:
- squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil
- partners:
- Japan 59%, US 14%, Australia 6%, NZ 6% (FY93/94)
Imports
- total value:
- $80.3 million (c.i.f., 1995)
- commodities :
- food products, live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals
- partners:
- NZ 38%, Australia 28%, US 10%, Fiji 7.5% (1995)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $7.8 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $3.9 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Exchange rates
pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2127 (December 1996), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992)
Communications
6 fieldsTransportation
7 fieldsNetworkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,990 GRT/14,884 DWT
- ships by type :
- cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan | Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note - a new | Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being | developed
5 fieldsMilitary branches
- Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police);
- note - a new Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being developed
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tonga.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tonga/1997.