1984 Edition

Agriculture

largely dominated by coconut and banana production, with subsistence crops of taro, yams, sweet potatoes, and breadfruit

Aid

economic commitments — Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF (197081), $77 million

Airfields

4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanentsurface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

executive — King, Cabinet, and Privy Council; unicameral legislature — Legislative Assembly composed of seven nobles elected by their peers, seven elected representatives of the people, eight Ministers of the Crown; the King appoints one of the seven nobles to be the speaker; judiciary — Supreme Court, Magistrate's Court, Land Court

Army Caribbean Sea

Budget

(1981-82) revenue, 14,744,237 pa'anga; expenditure, 14,735,833 pa'anga (est.)

Capital

Nuku'alofa, on Tongatapu Island

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Communists

none known

Elections

supposed to be held every three years, last in April 1978

Electric power

5,000 kW capacity (1981); 8 million kWh produced (1981), 78 kWh per capita

Exports

$7 million (1979); 65% copra, 8% bananas, 7% coconut products

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

GNP

$50 million (1980), $520 per capita

Government leaders

Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV, King; Prince Fatafehi TU'IPELEHAKE (younger brother of the King), Premier

Highways

198 km metaled road (Tongatapu); 74 km (Vava'u); 94 km unsealed roads usable only in dry weather

Imports

$29 million (1979); food, machinery, and petroleum

Legal system

based on English law

Major trade partners

exports — 36% Australia, 34% New Zealand, 14% US; imports— 38% New Zealand, 31% Australia, 6% Japan, 5% Fiji (1979)

Member of

ADB, Commonwealth, FAO, ESCAP, GATT (de facto), IFAD, ITU, South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation, South Pacific Bureau Forum, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Economy

Monetary conversion rate

1.0778 pa'anga= US$1 (February 1984)

Political subdivisions

three main island groups (Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Vava'u)

Ports

2 minor (Nuku'alofa, Neiafu)

Railroads

none

Suffrage

all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21

Telecommunications

1,285 telephones (1.4 per 100 pop].); 1 1,000 radio sets; no TV sets; 1 AM station; 1 ground satellite station Defense Forces

Type

constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth