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

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Background:


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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
Comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 419 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 44.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

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: 105,780 (July 2021 est.)
Growth rate: -0.23% (2021 est.)
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 <0.1% (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%), Church of Jesus Christ 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.)

Population growth rate: -0.23% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 20.6 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 4.95 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: -17.96 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 est.)

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 (2021)
Rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 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: 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: 52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.73 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 13.77 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 11.65 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.29 years
Male: 75.63 years
Female: 78.99 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.3% (2019)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved rural: 100% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 5.1% (2018)

Physicians density: 0.54 physicians/1000 population (2013)

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 96.6% of population
Improved rural: 93.6% of population
Improved total: 94.5% of population
Unimproved urban: 3.4% of population
Unimproved rural: 6.4% of population
Unimproved total: 5.5% of population (2017 est.)

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

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vector borne diseases: malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019)

Education expenditures: 8% of GDP (2019)

Literacy
Definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
Total population: 99.4%
Male: 99.4%
Female: 99.5% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 8.9%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 5.7%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 13.1% (2018)


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
Conventional short form: Tonga
Local long form: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o 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

Government type: constitutional monarchy

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)
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, revised 1988, 2016
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 2013

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 descentonly: 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 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); 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-Designate Siaosi SOVALENI (since 15 November 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
Elections and 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 15 November 2021 (next to be held in in November 2025)
Election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister-designate by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10
Note: a Privy Council advises the monarch

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (up to 30 seats; - 26 for the 2021-25 term); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party (elected members) - Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands 3, Tonga People's Party 1, independent 13; composition (elected members) - men 17, women 0, percent of women 0%

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 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 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
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
Tonga People's Party or PAK

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 Viliami Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
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 email address and website: tongaunmission@aol.com
In the us consulate(s)general: San Francisco
From the us embassy: 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 tu'i `o e `Otu Tonga' (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
Lyrics and music: 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:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

3.5% (2015 est.)

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

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: coconuts, gourds, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, roots/tubers nes, plantains, lemons/limes

Industries: tourism, construction, fishing

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

Labor force: 33,800 (2011 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.)
By occupation industry: 27.5% (2006 est.)
By occupation services: 2,006% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2011 est.)

1.1% (2006)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 8.9%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 5.7%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 13.1% (2018)

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

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 37.6 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA
Highest 10: NA

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.)

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

Public debt: 48% of GDP (FY2017 est.)

51.8% of GDP (FY2016 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.4% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)

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: -$53 million (2017 est.)

-$30 million (2016 est.)

Exports: $90 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$110 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$100 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Partners: United States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%,  (2019)
Commodities: squash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019)

Imports: $300 million note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

$330 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$320 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Partners: Fiji 29%, New Zealand 23%, China 14%, United States 8%, Australia 6%, Japan 6% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, poultry meats, audio equipment, mutton, goat meat, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $198.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt external: $189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

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.)
Consumption: 48.36 million kWh (2016 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2016)
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 20,300 kW (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Coal

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

Crude oil

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

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,637 (2019)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6.35 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 62,104 (2019)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59.43 (2019 est.)

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: 43,800 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 41.25% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 3,703 (2019)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.54 (2019 est.)


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: Tonga Defense Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces): Joint Force headquarters, Territorial Forces, Land Force, Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing, and Support Unit (2021)

Military service age and obligation: Volunteers, 18-25; no conscription (2019)

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

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

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

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

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 32
By type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai


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Disputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Fiji

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs