1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution 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
25.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Infant mortality rate
37.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Tongan, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.78 years male: 67.73 years female: 72.22 years (1999 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
-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
109,082 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
0.8% (1999 est.)
Religions
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Total fertility rate
3.56 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Capital
Nuku'alofa
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 monarch note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and the Cabinet elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
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; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High 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 monarch; 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 March 1999) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--7 proreform, 2 traditionalist
National holiday
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
squash, 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
$62 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient
$38.8 million (1995)
Economy--overview
The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 32% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings. The country remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment.
Electricity--consumption
30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
pa'anga (T$) per US$1--1.6171 (December 1998), 1.4921 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994)
Exports
$11.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)
Exports--commodities
squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut oil
Exports--partners
Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia 5% (1996 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July--30 June
GDP
purchasing power parity--$232 million (FY97/98 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 32% industry: 10% services: 58% (1996)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$2,100 (FY97/98 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-1.5% (FY97/98 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$78.9 million (f.o.b., FY97/98)
Imports--commodities
food products, live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals
Imports--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 prices)
2% (1997 est.)
Labor force
36,665 (1994)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
11.8% (FY93/94)
Communications
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 (1997)
Televisions
2,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Airports
6 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,754 GRT/25,969 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 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