$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 213
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
440 (2001) country comparison to the world: 220
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 223
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Imports:
$969,200 (2002) country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 228
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet hosts:
360 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 215
Transportation ::Tokelau
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Tokelau
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Tokelau
Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
page last updated on November 10, 2009
======================================================================
@Tonga (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tonga
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
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 747 sq km country comparison to the world: 189 land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
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
Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People ::Tonga
Population:
120,898 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 20,270/female 19,428)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 37,837/female 38,166)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,163/female 3,034) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.482% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
19.84 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 147 male: 12.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 68.18 years
female: 73.41 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 71
Government ::Tonga
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet 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
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and 2 governors
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch
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)
elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents 3, PDP 2
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA];
People's Democratic Party or PDP [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]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Viliami MALOLO
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
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
Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy ::Tonga
Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. 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 Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 41,000 visitors in 2004. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$548.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 $543.7 million (2007 est.)
$545.4 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$258 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -0.3% (2007 est.)
3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $4,600 (2007 est.)
$4,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)
Labor force:
39,960 (2007) country comparison to the world: 189
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.8%
industry: 30.6%
services: 37.6% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% (FY03/04 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Population below poverty line:
24% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $80.48 million
expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.46% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 12.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$36.16 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 $46.38 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$100.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 120 $106.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$163.1 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares: