Tonga
Kingdom of TongaPule'anga Tonga
constitutional monarchyIndependence 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Tonga as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 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:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006); Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea, 9 seats, elected 23-24 April 2008one dot, one seat
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
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)
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 consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life;
- four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two 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:
- 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, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
- election results:
- Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents 3, PDP 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
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [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, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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
Economy
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy.
45 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops, and agricultural exports, including fish, 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.
Agriculture - products
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Exchange rates
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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:
- combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
- international:
- country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 13 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Military
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2008)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2008)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tonga.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tonga/2008.