Introduction

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

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`
Area: |  |
`total: 747 sq km country comparison to the world: 189 land: 717 sq km water: 30 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`four times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`419 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation`
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`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`fish, fertile soil`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 20% permanent crops: 14.67% other: 65.33% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou volcanism: the Tonga Islands experience volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua`
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`
Geography - note: |  |
`archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)`

People

Population: |  |
`105,916 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 191`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 37.2% (male 20,023/female 19,393) 15-64 years: 56.7% (male 30,125/female 29,959) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 2,986/female 3,430) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 21.4 years male: 21 years female: 21.8 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.243% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 176`
Birth rate: |  |
`25.27 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60`
Death rate: |  |
`4.9 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Net migration rate: |  |
`-17.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 218`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 23% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 125 male: 14.07 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 75.16 years country comparison to the world: 87 male: 73.79 years female: 76.58 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`3.65 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 4% of population total: 4% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Polynesian, Europeans`
Religions: |  |
`Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)`
Languages: |  |
`Tongan (official), English (official)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 98.9% male: 98.8% female: 99% (1999 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2007)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`3.9% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 107`

Government

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: |  |
`National Day, 4 November (1875)`
Constitution: |  |
`4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967`
Legal system: |  |
`English common law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt`
Suffrage: |  |
`21 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO (since 22 December 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet is nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
note: there is also a Privy Council that advises the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of parliament and appointed by the monarch
election results: Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO elected by parliament on 21 December 2010 with 14 of 26 votes
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats - 9 for nobles elected from among the country's 29 nobles, 17 members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 25 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014) election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 67.3%, Democratic Party 28.5%; seats - Democratic Party 12, independents 5`
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: |  |
`Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands [Samuela 'Akilisi POHIVA]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]; Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA]; Tonga Democratic Labor Party [NA]; Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]`
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, AOSIS, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi TAUMOEPEAU-TUPOU 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 US 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; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice; white signifies purity`
National anthem: |  |
`name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands) lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT note: in use since 1875; the anthem is more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)`

Economy

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. 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. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. 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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$751 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $749.1 million (2009 est.) $750.9 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$363 million (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`0.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 -0.3% (2009 est.) 1.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$6,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $6,200 (2009 est.) $6,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 25% industry: 17% services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`39,960 (2007) country comparison to the world: 194`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 31.8% industry: 30.6% services: 2,003% (2003 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`13% (FY03/04 est.) country comparison to the world: 134`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`24% (FY03/04)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $80.48 million expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`5.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 156`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`12.47% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 12.46% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$44.64 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 184 $36.16 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$153.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 184 $136.9 million (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$149.2 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $163.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, construction, fishing`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 145`
Electricity - production: |  |
`43 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 200`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`39.99 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 204`
Oil - imports: |  |
`1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 186`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-23 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66`
Exports: |  |
`$22 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 206`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Hong Kong 25.42%, US 22.65%, Japan 12.21%, NZ 7.31%, Fiji 7.2%, Samoa 6.06%, South Korea 4.48% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$139 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 207`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Fiji 34.37%, NZ 25.03%, US 9.43%, Australia 7.53%, China 5.64% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$40.83 million (FY04/05) country comparison to the world: 138`
Debt - external: |  |
`$80.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 182`
Exchange rates: |  |
`pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007) 2.0277 (2006) 1.96 (2005) 1.9716 (2004) 2.142 (2003)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`31,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 180`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`53,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 196`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International (TTI)
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 70 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`2 state-owned television stations and 2 privately-owned stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3 privately-owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts obtainable via a satellite feed (2009)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.to`
Internet hosts: |  |
`20,847 (2010) country comparison to the world: 110`
Internet users: |  |
`8,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 202`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 176`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 680 km country comparison to the world: 188 paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (2000)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 10 country comparison to the world: 114 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 6, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2010)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); no conscription (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 24,460 females age 16-49: 24,041 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 20,956 females age 16-49: 20,577 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 1,196 female: 1,134 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`0.9% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 137`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011