1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

20 00 S, 175 00 W -- Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Flag ----

Area

comparative area

four times the size of Washington, DC

land area

718 sq km

total area

748 sq km

Climate

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Coastline

419 km

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

international agreements

party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Geographic note

archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

25%

forest and woodland

12%

meadows and pastures

6%

other

2%

permanent crops

55%

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

highest point

on Kao Island 1,033 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

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

Birth rate

27.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Infant mortality rate

40.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Tongan, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.4 years (1996 est.)

male

67.03 years

total population

69.04 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write a simple message in Tongan or English (1976 est.)

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Tongan

noun

Tongan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

106,466 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.82% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.75 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Nuku'alofa

Constitution

4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Data code

TN

Diplomatic representation in US

Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the king

chief of state

King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) is a constitutional monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) were appointed for life by the king

Flag

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

Independence

4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king

Legal system

based on English law

Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

elections last held 3-4 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (30 total, 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine for elected people's representatives) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form

Tonga

former

Friendly Islands

National holiday

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Political parties and leaders

Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA

Privy Council

consists of the king and the Cabinet

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type of government

hereditary constitutional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Agriculture

coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

Budget

expenditures

$86 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$44 million

Currency

1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 40% 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 manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.

Electricity

capacity

6,000 kW

consumption per capita

231 kWh (1993)

production

30 million kWh

Exchange rates

pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2753 (December 1995), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991)

Exports

$20.3 million (f.o.b., FY93/94)

commodities

squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil

partners

Japan 59%, US 14%, Australia 6%, NZ 6% (FY93/94)

External debt

$48.4 million (FY93/94)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $228 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

40% (1995 est.)

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$2,160 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4% (1995 est.)

Imports

$57.8 million (c.i.f., FY93/94)

commodities

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

partners

NZ 44%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 7% (FY93/94)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (1993)

Labor force

32,013 (1990 est.)

by occupation

agriculture 70% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

NA

males fit for military service

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

66,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

3,500 (1986 est.)

Televisions

1,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

6

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

2

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

280 km

total

432 km

unpaved

152 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

total

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,990 GRT/14,884 DWT

Ports

Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

Railways

0 km