2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.3% (male 20,679/female 19,843) 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 34,399/female 34,964) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,059/female 2,745) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Airports

6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Area

land

718 sq km

total

748 sq km

water

30 sq km

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

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 Tonga

Birth rate

25.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$83.88 million; including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY04/05)

revenues

$56.97 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

21 08 S, 175 12 W

name

Nuku'alofa

time difference

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

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

Coastline

419 km

Constitution

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form

Tonga

former

Friendly Islands

local long form

Pule'anga Tonga

local short form

Tonga

Currency (code)

pa'anga (TOP)

Currency code

TOP

Current account balance

$-4.321 million (FY04/05)

Death rate

5.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$80.7 million (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022

chief of mission

Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU

telephone

[1] (917) 369-1025

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

$19.3 million Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02) (2004)

Economy - overview

Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. 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 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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

38.13 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

41 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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 Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Polynesian, Europeans

Exchange rates

pa'anga per US dollar - 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet currently consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles and peoples representatives serving three year terms

chief of state

King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)

note

there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and two governors

Exports

$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners

Japan 41.8%, US 33.4%, NZ 6.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (917) 369-1024

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Tonga

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

23%

industry

27%

services

50% (FY03/04 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$244 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$178.5 million (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Geography - note

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited) People Tonga

Government type

constitutional monarchy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

NZ 33.4%, Fiji 26.6%, Australia 10.5%, US 8.4% (2005)

Independence

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2003 est.)

Industries

tourism, fishing

Infant mortality rate

female

10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

13.63 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.1% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.to

Internet hosts

18,775 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

3,000 (2004) Transportation Tonga

Irrigated land

NA

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)

Labor force

33,910 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

65%

industry and services

35% (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

20%

other

65.33% (2005)

permanent crops

14.67%

Languages

Tongan, English

Legal system

based on English law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)

election results

Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2

elections

last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.45 years (2006 est.)

male

67.32 years

total population

69.82 years

Literacy

definition

can read and write Tongan and/or English

female

99% (1999 est.) Government Tonga

male

98.8%

total population

98.9%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females ag3 18-49

24,827 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

25,420

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

21,342 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

19,840

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

1,538 (2005 est.)

males ag3 18-49

1,586

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

Median age

female

21.3 years (2006 est.)

male

20.1 years

total

20.7 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned

4 (Australia 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2006)

total

16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,185 GRT/72,960 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA Transnational Issues Tonga

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

National holiday

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Nationality

adjective

Tongan

noun

Tongan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, fertile soil

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

Population

114,689 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

24% (FY03/04)

Population growth rate

2.01% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Nuku'alofa Military Tonga

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios

61,000 (1997)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$40.83 million (yearend)

Roadways

paved

184 km

total

680 km

unpaved

496 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic switched network

general assessment

competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television

international

country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Telephones - main lines in use

11,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16,400 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2004)

Televisions

2,000 (1997)

Terrain

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Tonga Defense Services

Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

13% (FY03/04 est.)