1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km
Area-comparative
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
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: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography-note
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 24% permanent crops: 43% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 11% other: 16% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
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
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
26.43 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Infant mortality rate
38.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Tongan, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.54 years male: 67.51 years female: 71.96 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 98.5% male: 98.4% female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Nationality
noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan
Net migration rate
-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
108,207 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.81% (1998 est.)
Religions
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Total fertility rate
3.63 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Constitution
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands
Data code
TN
Executive branch
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the king note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king
Flag description
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
Government type
hereditary constitutional monarchy
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, IHO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London 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
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA
Legal system
based on English law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats-12 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 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA February 1999) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-7 proreform, 2 traditionalist
National capital
Nuku'alofa
National holiday
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Budget
revenues: $49 million expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY96/97 est.)
Currency
1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Debt-external
$70 million (1995)
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $37 million (1994)
Economy-overview
The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 32% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings; the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy grew at a declining rate in 1993-96. The government has been turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.
Electricity-capacity
7,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
284 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
30 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
pa'anga (T$) per US$1-1.3112 (November 1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993)
Exports
total value: $15.3 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia 5% (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$239 million (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 32% industry: 10% services: 58% (1996)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$2,250 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
1% (1996 est.)
Imports
total value: $82.9 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: food products, live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 34%, Australia 16%, US 10%, UK 8%, Japan 6% (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
1.9% (FY95/96)
Industries
tourism, fishing
Inflation rate-consumer price index
2% (1997 est.)
Labor force
total: 36,665 (1994) by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
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
6,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1995)
Televisions
2,000 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.8% (FY93/94)
Transportation
Airports
6 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine
total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,278 GRT/16,441 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note-a new Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being developed
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none