Tonga

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2015)

Internet country code

.to

Internet users

total: 48,000 | percent of population: 45% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Telephone system

general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Digicel Tonga Limited is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; both parties provide high speed Internet, mobile telephone networks, and international telecom services; Digicel also holds a telecommunication license after its acquisition of TonFon (a subsidiary of former Shoreline Communications Tonga); submarine cable infrastructure, managed by Tonga Cable Limited, has also been brought to the country by Asian Development Bank and World Bank aid | 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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 13,220 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 70,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Agriculture - products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro and kava

Budget

revenues: $94.98 million | expenditures: $94.98 million (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.09% (31 December 2015 est.) | 8.89% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Current account balance

-$32 million (2015 est.) | -$37 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Debt - external

$206.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $196.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

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. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 45,000 visitors in 2013. 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. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for healthcare 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.

Exchange rates

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - | 2.1058 (2015 est.) | 1.847 (2014 est.) | 1.847 (2013 est.) | 1.72 (2012 est.) | 1.729 (2011 est.)

Exports

$30.6 million (2015 est.) | $31 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Exports - commodities

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners

Japan 16%, US 15.4%, Fiji 12.8%, NZ 12.5%, South Korea 11%, Samoa 10.7%, Australia 7.5%, American Samoa 6.8% (2015)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$414 million (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$526 million (2015 est.) | $512.6 million (2014 est.) | $502.4 million (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 213

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 79.8% | government consumption: 20.7% | investment in fixed capital: 38.7% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 16.2% | imports of goods and services: -55.5% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 19.3% | industry: 20.1% | services: 60.6% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,100 (2015 est.) | $4,900 (2014 est.) | $4,800 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 168

GDP - real growth rate

2.6% (2015 est.) | 2% (2014 est.) | -0.6% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$263 million (2015 est.) | $240.1 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

Fiji 37.7%, NZ 21.2%, China 14.2%, US 6.4%, Australia 4.5% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

10.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7

Industries

tourism, construction, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1% (2015 est.) | 2.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Labor force

33,800 (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 27.5% | industry: 27.5% | services: 2,006% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

24% (FY03/04 est.)

Public debt

45.1% of GDP (2013) | 46.5% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 98

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$156.1 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $158.8 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Stock of broad money

$198.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $195.1 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$110.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $107.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Stock of domestic credit

$128.4 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $121.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Stock of narrow money

$101.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $95.17 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Taxes and other revenues

22.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Unemployment rate

1.1% (2011 est.) | 1.1% (2006) | country comparison to the world: 6

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

200,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 es) | country comparison to the world: 198

Electricity - consumption

46.5 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013) | country comparison to the world: 203

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity - installed generating capacity

17,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - production

50 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity access

population without electricity: 5,325 | electrification - total population: 96% | electrification - urban areas: 100% | electrification - rural areas: 83% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 199

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,457 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Area

total: 747 sq km | land: 717 sq km | water: 30 sq km | country comparison to the world: 190

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

mean elevation: NA | 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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 43.1% | arable land 22.2%; permanent crops 15.3%; permanent pasture 5.6% | forest: 12.5% | other: 44.4% (2011 est.)

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: 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

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock

Administrative divisions

5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, 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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2014 (2016)

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 | etymology: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia

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 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

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

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

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

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats; 17 people's representatives 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: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, noble's representatives 9, independent 8

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)

National holiday

King's Official Birthday, 4 July (1959); Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

National symbol(s)

red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white

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

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.

Military branches

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2013)

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.47% (male 18,656/female 18,061) | 15-24 years: 19.57% (male 10,671/female 10,169) | 25-54 years: 33.92% (male 18,045/female 18,080) | 55-64 years: 5.7% (male 3,000/female 3,072) | 65 years and over: 6.35% (male 3,064/female 3,695) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

22.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.9% (2012)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 74.3% | youth dependency ratio: 64.1% | elderly dependency ratio: 10.2% | potential support ratio: 9.8% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.7% of population | rural: 99.6% of population | total: 99.6% of population | urban: 0.3% of population | rural: 0.4% of population | total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Tongan 96.6%, part-Tongan 1.7%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 129

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 12 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Languages

English and Tongan 87%, Tongan (official) 10.7%, English (official) 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.03% (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.2 years | male: 74.7 years | female: 77.8 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Literacy

definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English | total population: 99.4% | male: 99.3% | female: 99.4% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

NUKU'ALOFA 25,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

124 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Median age

total: 22.6 years | male: 22.2 years | female: 23.1 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.9 | note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Tongan(s) | adjective: Tongan

Net migration rate

-17.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

41.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 5

Physicians density

0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

106,513 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

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 0.9%, Anglican 0.8% and Full Gospel Church 0.2%), Mormon 16.8%, Roman Catholic 15.6%, other 1.1%, none 0.03%, unspecified 1.7% (2006 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.6% of population | rural: 89% of population | total: 91% of population | urban: 2.4% of population | rural: 11% of population | total: 9% of population (2015 est.)

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: 0.98 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Urbanization

urban population: 23.7% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

6 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 177

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A3 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 7 | by type: cargo 4, carrier 1, passenger/cargo 2 | foreign-owned: 2 (Australia 1, UK 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 122

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 75,416 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Roadways

total: 680 km | paved: 184 km | unpaved: 496 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 190