Map of Tonga | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | 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 (2022)

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: 105,221 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: -0.3% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 22.5% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Tongan(s)
Adjective: Tongan

Ethnic groups: Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)

Languages: Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent language use at home of persons aged 5 and older

Religions: Protestant 63.9% (Free Wesleyan Church 34.2%, Free Church of Tonga 11.3%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assembly of God 2.5%, Tokaikolo/Maamafo'ou 1.5%, Constitutional Church of Tonga 1.2%, other Protestant 4%), Church of Jesus Christ 19.7%, Roman Catholic 13.7%, other 2.1%, none 0.6%, no answer 0.1% (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 29.92% (male 15,989/female 15,491)
15-64 years: 62.79% (male 33,330/female 32,741)
65 years and over: 7.29% (2023 est.) (male 3,453/female 4,217)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.6
Youth dependency ratio: 58.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.5
Potential support ratio: 9.5 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.4 years (2023 est.)
Male: 25 years
Female: 25.9 years

Population growth rate: -0.3% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -18.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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: 23.2% of total population (2023)
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: 7.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio: 126 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 76.1 years
Female: 79.5 years

Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.3% (2019)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.8% of population
Improved rural: 99.6% of population
Improved total: 99.6% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 0.4% of population
Unimproved total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 5.3% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 31% (2020 est.)
Male: 46.7% (2020 est.)
Female: 15.3% (2020 est.)

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

Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
Total population: 99.4%
Male: 99.4%
Female: 99.5% (2021)

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

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 11.1% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 7.5%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.3%


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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 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 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985)
Head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)
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 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
Election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister 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 (30 seats statutory, 26 current); 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) - independents 11, nobles' representatives 9, DPFI 3, TPPI 3; composition - men 26, women 2, percent of women 7.14%

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:

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 Viliana 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/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: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub

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

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

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, plantains, lemons/limes

Industries: tourism, construction, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 1.23% (2021 est.)

Labor force: 32,000 (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 11.1% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 7.5%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16.3%

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: $212 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $196 million (2019 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

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

Public debt:

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

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:

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:

Exports:
Partners: United States 22%, South Africa 18%, New Zealand 15%, Australia 13%, South Korea 11% (2021)
Commodities: natural gas, shellfish, various fruits and nuts, vegetables, cassava, coral and shells (2021)

Imports:
Partners: New Zealand 36%, China 20%, Fiji 18%, Australia 6%, United States 6% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, poultry meats, cars, mutton, goat meat, lumber, x-ray equipment, broadcasting equipment (2021)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 26,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 54.448 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 5.9 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

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

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 171,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 171,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 22.841 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 10,824 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 64,328 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2021 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: 73,700 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 67% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 5,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures:

Military and security forces:

Military service age and obligation: voluntary military service for men and women 18-25; no conscription (2023)

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: 6 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 5
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

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

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 32 (2022)
By type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14

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


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Disputes international: Tonga-Fiji: Fiji does not recognize Tonga’s 1972 claim to the Minerva Reefs and their surrounding waters; the Minerva Reefs’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone includes valuable fishing grounds

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs