2015 Edition

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.

Area

land

717 sq km

total

747 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

highest point

unnamed elevation 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, 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 169 islands (36 inhabited)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 22.2%; permanent crops 15.3%; permanent pasture 5.6%

agricultural land

43.1%

forest

12.5%

other

44.4% (2011 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

volcanism

moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock

Age structure

0-14 years

35.06% (male 18,971/female 18,370)

15-24 years

19.44% (male 10,605/female 10,103)

25-54 years

33.6% (male 17,880/female 17,901)

55-64 years

5.61% (male 2,924/female 3,047)

65 years and over

6.29% (male 3,050/female 3,650) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

23 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.2%

potential support ratio

9.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

74.3%

youth dependency ratio

64.1%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 99.6% of population

total: 99.6% of population

urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 0.4% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Tongan 96.6%, part-Tongan 1.7%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)

Health expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

12.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English and Tongan 87%, Tongan (official) 10.7%, English (official) 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.59 years (2015 est.)

male

74.53 years

total population

76.04 years

Literacy

definition

can read and write Tongan and/or English

female

99.4% (2015 est.)

male

99.3%

total population

99.4%

Major urban areas - population

NUKU'ALOFA 25,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

124 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

22.8 years (2015 est.)

male

21.9 years

total

22.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Tongan

noun

Tongan(s)

Net migration rate

-17.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

41.1% (2014)

Physicians density

0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

106,501 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.03% (2015 est.)

Religions

Protestant 64.9% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 37.3%, Free Church of Tonga 11.4%, Church of Tonga 7.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 2.6%, Assembly of God 2.3% Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Constitutional Church of Tonga .9%, Anglican .8% and Full Gospel Church .2%), Mormon 16.8%, Roman Catholic 15.6%, other 1.1%, none 0.03%, unspecified 1.7% (2006 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.6% of population

rural: 89% of population

total: 91% of population

urban: 2.4% of population

rural: 11% of population

total: 9% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.26 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

23.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988; amended several times, last in 2014 (2015)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

250 E. 51st Street, New York, NY, 10022

chief of mission

Ambassador Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 10 September 2013)

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

FAX

[1] (917) 369-1024

telephone

[1] (917) 369-1025

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI

election results

'Akilisi POHIVA (Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands) elected prime minister by parliament on 29 December 2014; vote - 15 of 26 votes

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 21 December 2010 (next to be held in November 2014)

head of government

Prime Minister 'Akilisi POHIVA (since 30 December 2014)

note

a Privy Council advises the monarch

Flag description

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice; white signifies purity

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers

judge selection and term of office

judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council, judge appointments subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly

subordinate courts

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Courts; Land Courts

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats; 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 3-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, noble's representatives 9, independent 8

elections

last held on 27 November 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT

name

"Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)

note

in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

National holiday

National Day, 4 November (1875)

National symbol(s)

red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands [Samuela 'Akilisi POHIVA]

People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]

Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA]

Tonga Democratic Labor Party

Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM

Political pressure groups and leaders

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]

Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro and kava

Budget

expenditures

$108.3 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$162.4 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

12.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.89% (31 December 2014 est.)

9.26% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$14 million (2014 est.)

-$7 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$215 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$198.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Tonga has a small, open, island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, 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 overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offer a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep sea mining also offer opportunities for investment. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. The government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.

Exchange rates

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -

1.8468 (2014 est.)

1.847 (2013 est.)

1.72 (2012 est.)

1.729 (2011 est.)

1.906 (2010 est.)

Exports

$38.8 million (2014 est.)

$35.8 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners

NZ 16.7%, US 15.6%, Fiji 11.2%, Japan 10.3%, Samoa 9.5%, South Korea 9%, Australia 7.9%, American Samoa 6%, Belgium 5.6% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

17.9%

government consumption

20.4%

household consumption

79.8%

imports of goods and services

-53.9%

investment in fixed capital

36.5%

investment in inventories

-0.7%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

20.5%

industry

18.8%

services

60.7% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2014 est.)

$4,800 (2013 est.)

$4,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.3% (2014 est.)

-0.3% (2013 est.)

-1.1% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$438 million (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$502 million (2014 est.)

$490.6 million (2013 est.)

$492.1 million (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$152.7 million (2014 est.)

$187.7 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Fiji 35%, NZ 20.5%, China 10.8%, US 9.1%, Japan 5%, Australia 4.3% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2014 est.)

Industries

tourism, construction, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2014 est.)

1.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

33,800 (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

27.5%

industry

27.5%

services

2,006% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

24% (FY03/04 est.)

Public debt

45.1% of GDP (2013)

46.5% of GDP (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$166.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$158.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$198.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$195.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$73.97 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$70.97 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$121.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$120.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$95.17 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$94.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.1% (2011 est.)

1.1% (2006)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

188,800 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

44.64 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

48 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,202 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

2 state-owned TV stations and 2 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2009)

Internet country code

.to

Internet users

percent of population

37.9% (2014 est.)

total

40,400

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network

general assessment

competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International

international

country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

12,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

64 (2014 est.)

total

68,000

Television broadcast stations

3 (2004)

Airports

6 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

5

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2

foreign-owned

2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010)

total

7

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Roadways

paved

184 km

total

680 km

unpaved

496 km (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

24,041 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

24,460

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

20,577 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,956

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

1,134 (2010 est.)

male

1,196

Military branches

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); no conscription; the king retains the right to call up "all those capable of bearing arms" in wartime (2012)

Disputes - international

none