Tonga

Kingdom of Tonga

hereditary constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

Tonga as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

Position20 00 S, 175 00 W

Area748 sq km

LocationOceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about

Populationas each edition published it

109,082 people July 1999 est. · 101,313 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.8% 1999 est. · 0.8% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.78 years 1999 est. · 67.79 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.56 children per woman 1999 est. · 3.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

37.93 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 24 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,100 $900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-1.5% 0.4% in 1993

Geography

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about | two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

18 fields

Land useshare of 748 sq km

arable land 24%permanent crops 43%permanent pastures 6%forests and woodland 11%other 16% (1993 est.)

Area

748sq km

land: 718 sq kmwater: 30 sq kmfour times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

419km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

1,033m

unnamed location on Kao Islandlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

Natural hazards

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

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:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note

archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

People

14 fields

Population

109,082

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

25.92Death

6Net migration

-1.19

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)69.78

67.73 · 72.22

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1996 est.)98.5%

98.4% · 98.7%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

37.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Tongan(s)
adjective:: Tongan

Religions

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

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 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:: Tonga
former:: Friendly Islands

Data code

Government type

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital

Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

National holiday

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution

4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system

based on English law

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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 monarch

note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and the Cabinet

elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch

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 March 1999)
election results:: percent of vote--NA; seats--7 proreform, 2 traditionalist

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

Tonga People's Party [Viliami FUKOFUKA]

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 Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London;
address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High

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

Flag description

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

Economy

The economy's base is agriculture, which | contributes 32% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans | are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of | total exports.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,100

purchasing power parity? · (FY97/98 est.)

Real growth rate

-1.5%

(FY97/98 est.)industrial production growth: 1.9% (FY95/96)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.8%

(FY93/94)

GDP--composition by sector(1996)

agriculture 32%industry 10%services 58% (1996)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

43%

Japan

34%

19%

10%

Australia

16%

14%

Canada

Exports $11.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)Imports $78.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)(1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$49 millionExpenditures

$120 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY96/97 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

30 million (1996)Electricity consumption

30 million (1996)

Economy--overview

The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 32% 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 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings.

The country remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$232 million (FY97/98 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

36,665 (1994)

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Industries

tourism, fishing

Agriculture--products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Exports

$11.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)

Exports--commodities

squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut oil

Imports

$78.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)

Imports--commodities

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

Debt--external

$62 million (1998)

Economic aid--recipient

$38.8 million (1995)

Currency

1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti

Exchange rates

pa'anga (T$) per US$1--1.6171 (December 1998), 1.4921 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994)

Fiscal year

1 July--30 June

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

6,000

(1994 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: NA
international:: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

66,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

2,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Merchant marine, 7 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

bulk 1cargo 2chemical tanker 1liquefied gas tanker 2roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Networkskm

Highways

680Railways

Highways: paved: 184 km · unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.)

Highways

total:: 680 km
paved:: 184 km
unpaved:: 496 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

Airports

6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 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

3 fields

Military 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