2017 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

747 sq km 717 sq km 30 sq km

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

NA lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m

mean elevation

NA

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected 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 171 islands (45 inhabited)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

43.1% arable land 22.2%; permanent crops 15.3%; permanent pasture 5.6% 12.5% 44.4% (2011 est.)

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

12 nm 200 nm 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

volcanism

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

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Population - distribution

over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied

Terrain

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

Age structure

33.87% (male 18,323/female 17,741) 19.65% (male 10,715/female 10,209) 34.3% (male 18,243/female 18,278) 5.76% (male 3,048/female 3,083) 6.42% (male 3,090/female 3,749) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

33.87% (male 18,323/female 17,741)

15-24 years

19.65% (male 10,715/female 10,209)

25-54 years

34.3% (male 18,243/female 18,278)

55-64 years

5.76% (male 3,048/female 3,083)

65 years and over

6.42% (male 3,090/female 3,749) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

22.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.9% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

34.1% (2012)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

74.2 63.9 10.2 9.8 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.2

potential support ratio

9.8 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

74.2

youth dependency ratio

63.9

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.)

rural

0.4% of population

total

0.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.3% of population

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2014)

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

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.3 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

76.4 years 74.9 years 78.1 years (2017 est.)

female

78.1 years (2017 est.)

male

74.9 years

total population

76.4 years

Literacy

can read and write Tongan and/or English 99.4% 99.3% 99.4% (2015 est.)

definition

can read and write Tongan and/or English

female

99.4% (2015 est.)

male

99.3%

total population

99.4%

Major infectious diseases

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

NUKU'ALOFA 25,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

23 years 22.5 years 23.4 years (2017 est.)

female

23.4 years (2017 est.)

male

22.5 years

total

23 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.9 years median age at first birth among women 25-49 (2012 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-49 (2012 est.)

Nationality

Tongan(s) Tongan

adjective

Tongan

noun

Tongan(s)

Net migration rate

-17.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

48.2% (2016)

Physicians density

0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

106,479 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied

Population growth rate

-0.05% (2017 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 0.9%, Anglican 0.8% and Full Gospel Church 0.2%), 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.)

rural

11% of population

total

9% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.4% of population

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.84 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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

0.98 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.1 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

23.9% of total population (2017) 1.3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.3% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

23.9% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Nuku'alofa 21 08 S, 175 12 W UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

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

no the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga yes 5 years

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 many times, last in 2014 (2016)

Country name

Kingdom of Tonga Tonga Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga Tonga Friendly Islands "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia

conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form

Tonga

etymology

"tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia

former

Friendly Islands

local long form

Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o 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

Ambassador Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 17 September 2013) 250 E. 51st Street, New York, NY, 10022 [1] (917) 369-1025 [1] (917) 369-1024 San Francisco

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 17 September 2013)

consulate(s) general

San Francisco

FAX

[1] (917) 369-1024

telephone

[1] (917) 369-1025

Executive branch

King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI Interim Prime Minister 'Akilisi POHIVA (since 30 December 2014); note - King TUPOU VI dissolved the parliament on 26 August 2017 Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch 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 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018) 'Akilisi POHIVA (Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands) elected prime minister by parliament on 29 December 2014; vote - 15 of 26 votes a Privy Council advises the monarch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); 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 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)

head of government

Interim Prime Minister 'Akilisi POHIVA (since 30 December 2014); note - King TUPOU VI dissolved the parliament on 26 August 2017

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

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 appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council, judge appointments subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly Supreme Court; Magistrate's Courts; Land Courts

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

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) last held on 27 November 2014 (next to be held on 16 November 2017); note - King TUPOU VI dissolved the parliament on 26 September 2017 percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, nobles' representatives 9, independent 8

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, nobles' representatives 9, independent 8

elections

last held on 27 November 2014 (next to be held on 16 November 2017); note - King TUPOU VI dissolved the parliament on 26 September 2017

National anthem

"Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands) Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

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

Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959; 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

National symbol(s)

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

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] Public Service Association or PSA [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

$135.4 million $135.4 million (2016 est.)

expenditures

$135.4 million (2016 est.)

revenues

$135.4 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.9% (31 December 2016 est.) 8.09% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-53 million (2016 est.) $-78.3 million (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) $173.3 million (31 December 2015 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. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015. 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. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care 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 - 2.2157 (2016 est.) 2.216 (2015 est.) 2.106 (2014 est.) 1.847 (2013 est.) 1.72 (2012 est.)

Exports

$19.4 million (2016 est.) $18.1 million (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 25.6%, Japan 15.1%, NZ 14.3%, US 13.5%, Australia 10%, Philippines 9.4% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

101.1% 20.1% 25.8% -3.5% 18.2% -61.7% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

18.2%

government consumption

20.1%

household consumption

101.1%

imports of goods and services

-61.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.8%

investment in inventories

-3.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

19.6% 20.4% 60% (2016 est.)

agriculture

19.6%

industry

20.4%

services

60% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,400 (2016 est.) $5,200 (2015 est.) $5,000 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2016 est.) 3.5% (2015 est.) 2.9% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$413 million (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$560 million (2016 est.) $536 million (2015 est.) $512 million (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$266.6 million (2016 est.) $261.7 million (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

NZ 35.3%, Fiji 12.1%, Singapore 9.3%, China 8.4%, US 8%, Australia 7.6%, Japan 4.3% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

7.9% (2016 est.)

Industries

tourism, construction, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2016 est.) -1.1% (2015 est.)

Labor force

33,800 (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

27.5% 27.5% 2,006% (2006 est.)

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

$176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) $156.1 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$227.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) $203.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$117.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) $110.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$135.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) $128.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$112.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) $101.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.1% (2011 est.) 1.1% (2006)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

200,000 Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

46.5 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

82.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

17.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

17,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

50 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

5,325 96% 100% 83% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

83% (2012)

electrification - total population

96%

electrification - urban areas

100%

population without electricity

5,325

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 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,457 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2015)

Internet country code

.to

Internet users

42,552 40.0% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

40.0% (July 2016 est.)

total

42,552

Telephone system

competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Digicel Tonga Limited is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; both parties provide high speed Internet, mobile telephone networks, and international telecom services; Digicel also holds a telecommunication license after its acquisition of TonFon (a subsidiary of former Shoreline Communications Tonga); submarine cable infrastructure, managed by Tonga Cable Limited, has also been brought to the country by Asian Development Bank and World Bank aid combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 85 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 85 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network

general assessment

competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Digicel Tonga Limited is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; both parties provide high speed Internet, mobile telephone networks, and international telecom services; Digicel also holds a telecommunication license after its acquisition of TonFon (a subsidiary of former Shoreline Communications Tonga); submarine cable infrastructure, managed by Tonga Cable Limited, has also been brought to the country by Asian Development Bank and World Bank aid

international

country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

11,000 10 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

11,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

80,000 75 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

75 (July 2016 est.)

total

80,000

Airports

6 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

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

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A3 (2016)

Merchant marine

cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2 2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010)

by type

cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2

foreign-owned

2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010)

total

7

National air transport system

75,416 0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

75,416

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

1

number of registered air carriers

1

Ports and terminals

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

major seaport(s)

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Roadways

680 km 184 km 496 km (2011)

paved

184 km

total

680 km

unpaved

496 km (2011)

Military branches

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

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