:Tokelau Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Telecommunications:
telephone service between islands and to Western Samoa
:Tokelau Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
:Tonga Geography
Total area:
748 km2
Land area:
718 km2
Comparative area:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf:
no specific limits
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
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
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land 25%; permanent crops 55%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and
woodland 12%; other 2%
Environment:
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to
April); deforestation
Note:
located about 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of
the way between Hawaii and New Zealand
:Tonga People
Population:
103,114 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)
Birth rate:
26 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
-11 migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
22 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
65 years male, 70 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
3.7 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Tongan(s); adjective - Tongan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian; about 300 Europeans
Religions:
Christian; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
100% (male 100%, female 100%) age 15 and over can read and write a simple
message in Tongan or English (1976)
Labor force:
NA; 70% agriculture; 600 engaged in mining
Organized labor:
none
:Tonga Government
Long-form name:
Kingdom of Tonga
Type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Nuku`alofa
Administrative divisions:
three island groups; Ha`apai, Tongatapu, Vava`u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK; formerly Friendly Islands)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet), Privy Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S.
Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA
Suffrage:
all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held 14-15 February 1990 (next to be held NA February 1993); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3
traditionalist
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTERPOL,
IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, 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