TONGA
MARCH 25, 2009 BY RANG WHAM
| Introduction | Tonga | Top of Page |
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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.
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| Geography | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
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Map references:
Oceania
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Area:
total: 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km water: 30 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
0 km
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Coastline:
419 km
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Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
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Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
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Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m |
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Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
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Land use:
arable land: 21.33%
permanent crops: 14.67% other: 64% (2011) |
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Irrigated land:
NA
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Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua |
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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
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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 |
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Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
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| People | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Population:
106,501 (July 2015 est.)
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Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.06% (male 18,971/female 18,370)
15-24 years: 19.44% (male 10,605/female 10,103) 25-54 years: 33.6% (male 17,880/female 17,901) 55-64 years: 5.61% (male 2,924/female 3,047) 65 years and over: 6.29% (male 3,050/female 3,650) (2015 est.) |
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Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 74.3% youth dependency ratio: 64.1% elderly dependency ratio: 10.2% potential support ratio: 9.8% (2015 est.) |
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Median age:
total: 22 years
male: 21.6 years female: 22.5 years (2014 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
0.03% (2015 est.)
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Birth rate:
23 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
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Death rate:
4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
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Net migration rate:
-17.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
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Urbanization:
urban population: 23.7% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) |
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Major cities - population:
NUKU'ALOFA 25,000 (2014)
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Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.04 years
male: 74.53 years female: 77.59 years (2015 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
3.26 children born/woman (2015 est.)
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Health expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2013)
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Physicians density:
0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
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Hospital bed density:
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
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Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 99.7% of population rural: 99.6% of population total: 99.6% of population unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population rural: 0.4% of population total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.) |
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Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 97.6% of population rural: 89% of population total: 91% of population unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population rural: 11% of population total: 9% of population (2015 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
41.1% (2014)
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Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan |
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Ethnic groups:
Tongan 96.6%, part-Tongan 1.7%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
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Religions:
Protestant 64.9% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 37.3%, Free Church of Tonga 11.4%, Church of Tonga 7.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 2.6%, Assembly of God 2.3% Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Constitutional Church of Tonga .9%, Anglican .8% and Full Gospel Church .2%), Mormon 16.8%, Roman Catholic 15.6%, other 1.1%, none 0.03%, unspecified 1.7% (2006 est.)
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Languages:
English and Tongan 87%, Tongan (official) 10.7%, English (official) 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)
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Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4% male: 99.3% female: 99.4% (2015 est.) |
| Government | Tonga | Top of Page |
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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 |
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Government type:
constitutional monarchy
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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) |
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Administrative divisions:
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
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Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
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National holiday:
National Day, 4 November (1875)
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Constitution:
adopted 4 November 1875; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)
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Legal system:
English common law
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International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI
head of government: Prime Minister 'Akilisi POHIVA (since 30 December 2014) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 21 December 2010 (next to be held in November 2014) election results: 'Akilisi POHIVA (Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands) elected prime minister by parliament on 29 December 2014; vote - 15 of 26 votes note: a Privy Council advises the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats; 17 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 3-year terms) elections: last held on 27 November 2014 (next to be held in 2017) election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - NA; seats - Democratic Party 9, nobles representatives 9, independents 8 |
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Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council, judge appointments subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrate's Courts; Land Courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands [Samuela 'Akilisi POHIVA] People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO] Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA] Tonga Democratic Labor Party Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman] Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE] |
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International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 10 September 2013)
chancery: 250 E. 51st Street, New York, NY, 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
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Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice; white signifies purity
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National symbol(s):
red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
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National anthem:
name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands) lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song) |
| Economy | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Economy - overview:
Tonga has a small, open, island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. 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 overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offer a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep sea mining also offer opportunities for investment. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. The government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
$500 million (2014 est.)
$488.7 million (2013 est.) $490.1 million (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
$454 million (2014 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2014 est.)
-0.3% (2013 est.) -1.1% (2012 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,900 (2014 est.)
$4,800 (2013 est.) $4,800 (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars |
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GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 94.9% government consumption: 19.4% investment in fixed capital: 34.4% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 20% imports of goods and services: -68.7% (2014 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.1%
industry: 21.1% services: 60.8% (2014 est.) |
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Labor force:
33,800 (2011 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 27.5%
industry: 27.5% services: 45.1% (2006 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
1.1% (2011 est.) 1.1% (2006) |
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Population below poverty line:
24% (FY03/04 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Budget:
revenues: $144.1 million
expenditures: $146.5 million (FY13/14 est.) |
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Taxes and other revenues:
29.2% of GDP (FY13/14 est.)
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Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.5% of GDP (FY13/14 est.)
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Public debt:
45.1% of GDP (2013)
46.5% of GDP (2012)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (2014 est.)
0.7% (2013 est.)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.4% (31 December 2014 est.)
9.26% (31 December 2013 est.)
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Stock of narrow money:
$100.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$94.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Stock of broad money:
$192.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$195.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Stock of domestic credit:
$102.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$120.1 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
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Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro and kava
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Industries:
tourism, construction, fishing
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Industrial production growth rate:
0.6% (2014 est.)
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Electricity - production:
48 million kWh (2011 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
44.64 million kWh (2011 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2013)
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Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2013 est.)
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Electricity - installed generating capacity:
15,300 kW (2011 est.)
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Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
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Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
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Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
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Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
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Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
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Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
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Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,270 bbl/day (2013 est.)
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Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Refined petroleum products - imports:
1,202 bbl/day (2010 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
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Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
188,800 Mt (2012 est.)
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Current account balance:
-$40 million (2014 est.)
-$93.6 million (2013 est.)
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Exports:
$23.4 million (2014 est.)
$21.4 million (2013 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
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Exports - partners:
NZ 16.7%, US 15.6%, Fiji 11.2%, Japan 10.3%, Samoa 9.5%, South Korea 9%, Australia 7.9%, American Samoa 6%, Belgium 5.6% (2014)
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Imports:
$204.1 million (2014 est.)
$198.2 million (2013 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
Fiji 35%, NZ 20.5%, China 10.8%, US 9.1%, Japan 5%, Australia 4.3% (2014)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$159.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$155.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Debt - external:
$199.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$196.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$127.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$118.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
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Exchange rates:
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -1.86 (2014 est.), 1.774 (2013 est.), 1.72 (2012 est.), 1.729 (2011 est.), 1.906 (2010 est.)
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Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
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| Communications | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
total subscriptions: 12,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2014 est.) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 68,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2014 est.) |
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Telephone system:
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2011) |
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Broadcast media:
2 state-owned TV stations and 2 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2009)
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Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
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Television broadcast stations:
3 (2004)
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Internet country code:
.to
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Internet users:
total: 40,400
percent of population: 37.9% (2014 est.) |
| Transportation | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Airports:
6 (2013)
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Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2013) |
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Roadways:
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (2011) |
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Merchant marine:
total: 7
by type: cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010) |
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Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai |
| Military | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2013)
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Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); no conscription; the king retains the right to call up "all those capable of bearing arms" in wartime (2012)
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Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 24,460
females age 16-49: 24,041 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,956
females age 16-49: 20,577 (2010 est.) |
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,196
female: 1,134 (2010 est.) |
| Transnational Issues | Tonga | Top of Page |
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Disputes-international:
none
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009