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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.to

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

18,653 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

3,100 (2006)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television domestic: fully automatic switched network international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

13,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

29,900 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $56.97 million expenditures: $83.88 million (FY04/05)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

pa'anga (TOP)

Current account balance [time series]

$-4.321 million (FY04/05)

Debt - external [time series]

$80.7 million (2004)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$31.75 million (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports 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. 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 [time series]

32.55 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

35 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

pa'anga per US dollar - 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners [time series]

US 39.7%, Japan 27.8%, NZ 8.2%, South Korea 7.6% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$244 million (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$178.5 million (2004 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 23% industry: 27% services: 50% (FY03/04 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$2,200 (2005 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Fiji 30.3%, NZ 27.7%, US 8.2%, Australia 7.5%, France 5.7%, UK 4.7% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

tourism, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11.1% (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

33,910 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 65% industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

24% (FY03/04)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$40.83 million (yearend, FY04/05)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13% (FY03/04 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

419 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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 [time series]

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

fish, fertile soil

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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 [time series]

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU 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 [time series]

chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006) cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two each from the nobles' and peoples' representatives serving three-year terms note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the cabinet, and two governors elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008) election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%, other 30%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2

National holiday [time series]

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 25,420 females age 18-49: 24,827 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 19,840 females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,586 females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Tonga Defense Services: Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.9% (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 20,624/female 19,779) 15-64 years: 61.2% (male 35,551/female 36,052) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,087/female 2,828) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.67 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Polynesian, Europeans

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

Tongan, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.12 years male: 67.6 years female: 72.76 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 21.3 years male: 20.7 years female: 21.8 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

116,921 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.847% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.043 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.986 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.738 male(s)/female total population: 0.993 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

6 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 14 ships (1000 GRT or over) 58,756 GRT/67,889 DWT by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Nuku'alofa

Roadways [time series]

total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1999)