Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
@Tonga, Geography
Location: Oceania, Polynesia, 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 sq km land area: 718 sq km 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 sq km Environment: current issues: deforestation natural hazards: subject to cyclones (October to April) international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation Note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
@Tonga, People
Population: 104,778 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.79% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 24.76 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -10.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 20.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.97 years male: 65.64 years female: 70.43 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.62 children born/woman (1994 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 simple message in Tongan or English (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)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
Suffrage:
all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21
Executive branch:
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)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the king
Privy Council:
consists of the king and the cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea):
elections 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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic
Party, leader NA
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,
SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
consulate(s) general:
San Francisco
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
@Tonga, Economy
Overview:
The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the
labor force and contributes 40% 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 11% of GDP.
Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the
island remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to
offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993
largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and
several large construction projects. The government is now turning its
attention to further development of the private sector and the
reduction of the budget deficit.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $200 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (FY92)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$36.4 million
expenditures:
$68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2 million (1991
est.)
Exports:
$18.8 million (f.o.b., FY92 est.)
commodities:
vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil, squash
partners:
Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY91)
Imports:
$68.3 million (c.i.f., FY92 est.)
commodities:
food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels,
chemicals
partners:
NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY91)
External debt:
$47.5 million (FY91)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.5% (FY92); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
6,000 kW
production:
8 million kWh
consumption per capita:
80 kWh (1990)
Industries:
tourism, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and banana
production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258
million
Currency:
1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.3934 (November 1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961
(1991), 1.2809 (1990), 1.2637 (1989),
Fiscal year:
1 July-30 June
@Tonga, Communications