*Tokelau, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Telecommunications:
radiotelephone service between islands and to Western Samoa
*Tokelau, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
*Tonga, Geography
Location:
Oceania, 2,250 km north-northwest of New Zealand, about two-thirds of the
way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
748 km2
land area:
718 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International 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%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to
April); deforestation
*Tonga, People
Population:
103,949 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 25.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-10.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
21.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.79 years
male:
65.5 years
female:
70.24 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tongan(s)
adjective:
Tongan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
57%
male:
60%
female:
60%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)
*Tonga, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:
Tonga
former:
Friendly Islands
Digraph:
TN
Type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuku alofa
Administrative divisions:
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic Party,
leader NA
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 3-4 February 1993); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3
traditionalist
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)
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
US diplomatic representation:
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