Communists: none known
Member of: ACP, ADB, Commonwealth, FAO, ESCAP, GATT (de facto),
IFAD, ITU, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Siosaia a'Ulupekotofa
TUITA resides in London;
US—the US has no offices in Tonga; the Ambassador to Fiji is accredited
to Tonga and makes periodic visits
Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
- Economy Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 50% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the island remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to sustain its trade deficit.
GDP: $86 million, per capita $850; real growth rate 3.6%
(FY89 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.2% (FY87)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $54.8 million; expenditures $56.2 million, including capital expenditures of $16.9 million (FY88 est.)
Exports: $9.1 million (f.o.b., FY88 est.); commodities—coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro, vanilla beans, fruits, vegetables, fish; partners—NZ 54%, Australia 30%, US 8%, Fiji 5% (FY87)