Map of Tonga | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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; in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010. TUPOU died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother 'Aho'eitu TUPOU VI. Tropical Cyclone Gita, the strongest-ever recorded storm to impact Tonga, hit the islands in February 2018 causing extensive damage.


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

Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 747 km²
Land: 717 km²
Water: 30 km²
Rank: 189
Comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 419 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

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

Elevation
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 43.1% (2011 est.)
Forest: 12.5% (2011 est.)
Other: 44.4% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ouvolcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua

Geography
Note: the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand


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Population
Distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied: 106,095 (July 2020 est.)
Rank: 192
Growth rate: -0.16% (2020 est.)
Growth rate rank: 205
Below poverty line: 22.5% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Tongan(s)
Adjective: Tongan

Ethnic groups: Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified (2016 est.)

Languages: Tongan and English 76.8%, Tongan, English, and other language 10.6%, Tongan only (official) 8.7%, English only (official) 0.7%, other 1.7%, none 2.2% (2016 est.)
Note: data represent persons aged 5 and older who can read and write a simple sentence in Tongan, English, or another language

Religions: Protestant 64.1% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 35%, Free Church of Tonga 11.9%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 1.6%, other 4.3%), Mormon 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2%, other 2.4%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 32% (male 17,250/female 16,698)
15-24 years: 19.66% (male 10,679/female 10,175)
25-54 years: 35.35% (male 18,701/female 18,802)
55-64 years: 6.17% (male 3,345/female 3,202)
65 years and over: 6.83% (male 3,249/female 3,994) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.6
Youth dependency ratio: 58.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 10
Potential support ratio: 10 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.1 years
Male: 23.6 years
Female: 24.5 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 169

Population growth rate: -0.16% (2020 est.)
Rank: 205

Birth rate: 21 births/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 70

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 202

Net migration rate: -17.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 223

Population distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied

Urbanization
Urban population: 23.1% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

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: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 24.9 years (2012 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 10.3 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 10.7 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 9.9 deaths/1000 live births (2020 est.)
Rank: 128

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77 years
Male: 75.4 years
Female: 78.8 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 87

Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Rank: 56

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34.1% (2012)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 5.3% (2017)

Physicians density: 0.54 physicians/1000 population (2013)

Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 3.4% of population
Rural: 6.4% of population
Total: 5.5% of population (2017 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high (2020)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)
Rank: 7

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.9% (2012)
Rank: 114

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Literacy
Definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
Total population: 99.4%
Male: 99.4%
Female: 99.5% (2015)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
Conventional short form: Tonga
Local long form: Puleanga Fakatui o Tonga
Local short form: Tonga
Former: Friendly Islands
Etymology: tonga means south in the Tongan language and refers to the countrys geographic position in relation to central Polynesia

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital
Name: Nukualofa
Geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
Time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January: etymology: composed of the words 'nuku,' meaning 'residence or abode,' and 'alofa,' meaning 'love,' to signify 'abode of love'

Administrative divisions: 5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Dependent areas

Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)

National holiday: Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

Constitution
History: adopted 4 November 1875
Amendments: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2016

Legal system: English common law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo Alaivahamamao Ahoeitu Konstantin Tukuaho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTOA Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI
Head of government: Prime Minister Pohiva TUIONETOA (since 27 September 2019)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
Electionsappointments: 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 27 September 2019 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results: Pohiva TUIONETOA (Peoples Party) elected prime minister by parliament receiving 15of 23 votes cast
Note: a Privy Council advises the monarch

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (up to 30 seats; - 26 for the 2017-19 term); 17 peoples 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 16 November 2017 (next to be held in 2020)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 14, nobles representatives 9, independent 3; composition - men 24, women 2, percent of women 7.7%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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 monarchs 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 and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
Subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates Courts; Land Courts

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 PartyTonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Maheuliuli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 17 September 2013)
In the us chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10,022
In the us telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
In the us FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
In the us consulate: San Francisco
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

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, and white signifies purity

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

National anthem
Name: Ko e fasi `o e tui `o e `Otu Tonga (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
Lyricsmusic: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
Note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as 'Fasi Fakafonua' (National Song)

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real:
Real note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 115

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Rank: 150

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 99.4% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 21.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -68.5% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.)
Industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
Services: 59.8% (2017 est.)

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

Industries: tourism, construction, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.)
Rank: 59

Labor force: 33,800 (2011 est.)
Rank: 200
By occupation agriculture: 2006% (2006 est.)
By occupation industry: 27.5% (2006 est.)
By occupation services: 2006% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 13

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2010 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 181.2 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 181.2 million (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 47

Taxes and other revenues: 39.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 42

Public debt:
Rank: 109

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 196

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:
Rank: 81

Exports:
Rank: 213
Partners: Hong Kong 25.1%, NZ 22.6%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.8%, Australia 10.5% (2017)
Commodities: squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops, kava

Imports:
Rank: 209
Commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Partners: NZ 33.3%, Fiji 11.7%, US 9.8%, Singapore 9%, Australia 8.9%, China 7.9%, Japan 5.9% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 176

Debt external:
Rank: 190

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 98.9% (2018)
Access electrification urban areas: 98.9% (2018)
Access electrification rural areas: 98.9% (2018)
Production: 52 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 205
Consumption: 48.36 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 205
Exports: 0 kWh (2016)
Exports rank: 209
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 210
Installed generating capacity: 20,300 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 203
Generation sources fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 97
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 196
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 205
Generation sources other renewable sources: 26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 28

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 208
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 207
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 205
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 206

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products production rank: 209
Products consumption: 900 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 206
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 210
Products imports: 910 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 202

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 207
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 207
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 201
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 201
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 201

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 139,700 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 204

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,748
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6.35 (2019 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 200
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 63,156
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59.43 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 203

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)

Internet
Country code: .to
Users total: 43,889
Users percent of population: 41.25% (July 2018 est.)
Users rank: 199

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2,519
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2018 est.)
Rank: 186


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: Tonga Defense Services: Joint Force headquarters, Territorial Forces, Land Force, Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing, and Support Unit (2020)

Military service age and obligation: Volunteers, 18-25; no conscription (2014)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A3 (2016)

Airports: 6 (2013)
Rank: 178
With paved runways total: 1 (2019)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 5 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 680 km (2011)
Paved: 184 km (2011)
Unpaved: 496 km (2011)
Rank: 189

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 36
By type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 14, oil tanker 1, other 17 (2019)
Rank: 127

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Nukualofa, Neiafu, Pangai


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Disputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Fiji

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs