Tonga

Broadcast media

2 state-owned television stations and 2 privately-owned stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3 privately-owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts obtainable via a satellite feed (2009)

Internet country code

.to

Internet hosts

20,847 (2010) country comparison to the world: 110

Internet users

8,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 202

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 (TTI) domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 70 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

31,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 179

Telephones - mobile cellular

53,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 196

Agriculture - products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.47% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 12.46% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$23 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Debt - external

$80.7 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 182

Economy - overview

Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. 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 Tongan communities overseas 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, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.

Electricity - consumption

39.99 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

43 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Exchange rates

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)

Exports

$22 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 205

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners

Hong Kong 25.42%, US 22.65%, Japan 12.21%, NZ 7.31%, Fiji 7.2%, Samoa 6.06%, South Korea 4.48% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$301 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$767 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $770.9 million (2009 est.) $774.7 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25% industry: 17% services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $6,400 (2009 est.) $6,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 -0.5% (2009 est.) 1.2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$139 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 206

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Fiji 34.37%, NZ 25.03%, US 9.43%, Australia 7.53%, China 5.64% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Industries

tourism, construction, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Labor force

39,960 (2007) country comparison to the world: 195

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 31.8% industry: 30.6% services: 2,003% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Oil - imports

1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Population below poverty line

24% (FY03/04)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$40.83 million (FY04/05) country comparison to the world: 132

Stock of broad money

$153.8 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 183 $136.9 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$149.2 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 $163.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$44.64 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 184 $36.16 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

13% (FY03/04 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Area

total: 747 sq km country comparison to the world: 189 land: 717 sq km water: 30 sq km

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Coastline

419 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m

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

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Geography - note

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 14.67% other: 65.33% (2005)

Location

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou volcanism: the Tonga Islands experience volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m, 591 ft) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m, 853 ft), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua

Natural resources

fish, fertile soil

Terrain

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Administrative divisions

3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

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)

Constitution

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane Tu'akinamolahi TAUMOEPEAU-TUPOU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO (since 22 December 2010) cabinet: Cabinet is nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) note: there is also a Privy Council that advises the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from the members of parliament and appointed by the monarch election results: Lord Siale'ataonga TU'IVAKANO elected by parliament on 21 December 2010 with 14 of 26 votes

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

International organization participation

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council)

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats - 9 for nobles elected from among the country's 29 nobles, 17 members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 25 November 2010 (next to be held in 2014) election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - independents 67.3%, Democratic Party 28.5%; seats - Democratic Party 12, independents 5

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; the anthem is more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

National holiday

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

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 [NA]; Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 34,254 females age 16-49: 32,974 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 27,404 females age 16-49: 28,509 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,448 female: 1,392 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Military service age and obligation

16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental approval); no conscription (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.8% (male 20,270/female 19,428) 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 37,837/female 38,166) 65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,163/female 3,034) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

17.78 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Death rate

4.95 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 84

Ethnic groups

Polynesian, Europeans

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 147 male: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

Tongan (official), English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.03 years country comparison to the world: 137 male: 68.46 years female: 73.73 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 98.9% male: 98.8% female: 99% (1999 est.)

Median age

total: 22.7 years male: 22.3 years female: 23.2 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 103

Population

122,580 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Population growth rate

1.282% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Religions

Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Urbanization

urban population: 25% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 174

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 10 country comparison to the world: 115 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 6, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Roadways

total: 680 km country comparison to the world: 188 paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (2000)