Tonga

Kingdom of TongaPule'anga Tonga

constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Tonga as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 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, UTC+13

Position20 00 S, 175 00 W

Area748 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

114,689 people July 2006 est. · 101,313 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.01% 2006 est. · 0.8% in 1993

Median ageyears

20.7 years 2006 est. · 19.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.82 years 2006 est. · 67.79 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3 children per woman 2006 est. · 3.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 24 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,200 2005 est. · $900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.4% 2005 est. · 0.4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

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 20%permanent crops 14.67%other 65.33% (2005)

Area

748sq km

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

Coastline

419km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Map references

Oceania

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

Irrigated land

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 Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

2,059

65 and over4.2%

2,745

34,399

15-6460.5%

34,964

20,679

0-1435.3%

19,843

MaleFemale

Population

114,689

(July 2006 est.)growth rate: 2.01% (2006 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth

25.37Death

5.28Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2006 est.)69.82

67.32 · 72.45Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)12.3

13.63 · 10.91

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1999 est.)98.9%

98.8% · 99%Median age years (2006 est.)20.7

20.1 · 21.3

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

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Tongan(s)
adjective:: Tongan

Ethnic groups

Polynesian, Europeans

Religions

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

Languages

Tongan, English

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006); Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006)

18 fields

Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea, 9 seats, elected 21 March 2005one dot, one seat

HRDMT 7independents 2

Country name

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:: Tonga
local long form:: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form:: Tonga
former:: Friendly Islands

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name:: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates:: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference:: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

4 June 1970 (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 George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government:: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)
cabinet:: Cabinet currently consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life;
4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles and peoples representatives serving three year terms

note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and two governors

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)

elections:: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)
election results:: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council)

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU
chancery:: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone:: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX:: [1] (917) 369-1024
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

Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrow export base in agricultural goods.

39 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$178.5million

(2004 est.)official exchange rate: $244 million

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,200

(2005 est.)

Real growth rate

2.4%

(2005 est.)industrial production growth: 1% (2003 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

11.1%

(2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture 23%industry 27%services 50% (FY03/04 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

41.5%

Japan

6.3%

33.4%

33.1%

8.4%

Fiji

26.7%

Australia

10.5%

Exports $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues

$56.97 millionExpenditures

$83.88 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

34 million (2003)Electricity consumption

31.62 million (2003)

Economy - overview

Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. 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 country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education.

Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.

Labor force

33,910 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:: 65%
industry and services:: 35% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

13% (FY03/04 est.)

Population below poverty line

24% NA%

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

tourism, fishing

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

800 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance

$-4.321 million

Exports

$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Imports

$122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$40.83 million

Debt - external

$80.7 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient

$19.3 million Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)

Currency (code)

pa'anga (TOP)

Exchange rates

pa'anga per US dollar - 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

16,400

(2004)

Internet users

18,775

(2006)

Fixed lines

11,200

(2002) · country code .to

Telephone system

general assessment:: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications;
SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television
domestic:: fully automatic switched network
international:: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2004)

Internet users

3,000 (2004)

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 16 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,185 GRT/72,960 DWT

bulk carrier 1cargo 10liquefied gas 1livestock carrier 1passenger/cargo 1petroleum tanker 1refrigerated cargo 1foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2006)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

2,438 to 3,047 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m

1914 to 1,523 m

3under 914 m