1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 748 km2 land area: 718 km2 comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline
419 km
Environment
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to April); deforestation
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 25% permanent crops: 55% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 2%
Location
Oceania, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of the way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
fish, fertile soil
Terrain
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
People and Society
Birth rate
25.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Infant mortality rate
21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation: agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)
Languages
Tongan, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.79 years male: 65.5 years female: 70.24 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1976) total population: 57% male: 60% female: 60%
Nationality
noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan
Net migration rate
-10.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
103,949 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
0.8% (1993 est.)
Religions
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Total fertility rate
3.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Capital
Nuku alofa
Chief of State
King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
Constitution
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Digraph
TN
Diplomatic representation in US
Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
Executive branch
monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council
Flag
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
Head of Government
Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
Independence
4 June 1970 (from UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based on English law
Legislative Assembly
last held 14-15 February 1990 (next to be held 3-4 February 1993); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
Member of
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Names
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands
National holiday
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic Party, leader NA
Suffrage
all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21
Type
hereditary constitutional monarchy
US diplomatic representation
the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga and makes periodic visits
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper
Budget
revenues $36.4 million; expenditures $68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2 million (FY91 est.)
Currency
1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258 million
Electricity
6,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.3996 (January 1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2809 (1990), 1.2637 (1989), 1.2799 (1988)
Exports
$18.8 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.) commodities: coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro, vanilla beans, fruits, vegetables, fish partners: Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY91)
External debt
$47.5 million (FY91)
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June
Imports
$68.3 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.) commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY91)
Industrial production
growth rate 1.7% (FY90); accounts for 11% of GDP
Industries
tourism, fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (FY92 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $92 million (FY90)
National product per capita
$900 (FY90)
National product real growth rate
0.4% (FY92 est.)
Overview
The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the island remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 6 usable: 6 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Highways
198 km sealed road (Tongatapu); 74 km (Vava'u); 94 km unsealed roads usable only in dry weather
Merchant marine
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,765 GRT/10,597 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 liquefied gas
Ports
Nukualofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Telecommunications
3,529 telephones; 66,000 radios; no TV sets; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Tonga Defense Force, Tonga Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Royal Tongan Guard, Police
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
NA