Tonga :: Australia-Oceania
Introduction
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.
Geography
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 references:
Oceania
Area:
total:
747 sq km
land:
717 sq km
water:
30 sq km
country comparison to the world: 189
Area - 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
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:
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.)
arable land:
22.2%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
15.3%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
5.6%
(2011 est.)
forest:
12.5%
(2011 est.)
other:
44.4%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
++ volcanism: 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
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
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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
People and Society
Population:
106,095
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
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.)
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.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Population growth rate:
-0.16%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Birth rate:
21 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Death rate:
4.9 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Net migration rate:
-17.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 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
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
0.71% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
23,000 NUKU'ALOFA
(2018)
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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
24.9 years
(2012 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality rate:
52 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Infant mortality rate:
total:
10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77 years
male:
75.4 years
female:
78.8 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Total fertility rate:
2.87 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
34.1%
(2012)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
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/1,000 population
(2013)
Hospital bed density:
2.6 beds/1,000 population
(2010)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
96.6% of population
rural:
93.6% of population
total:
94.5% of population
unimproved:
urban:
3.4% of population
rural:
6.4% of population
total:
5.5% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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)
country comparison to the world: 7
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
1.9%
(2012)
country comparison to the world: 114
Education expenditures:
NA
Literacy:
definition:
can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.4%
female:
99.5%
(2015)
Government
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
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 '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 Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA (since 27 September 2019)
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 27 September 2019 (next to be held in November 2020)
election results:
Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA (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 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 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 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 [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
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 Mahe'uli'uli Sandhurst TUPOUNIUA (since 17 September 2013)
chancery:
250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone:
[1] (917) 369-1025
FAX:
[1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general:
San Francisco
Diplomatic representation 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 symbol(s):
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)
Economy
Economic 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 53,800 visitors in 2015. 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 health care and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers 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. But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.
GDP real growth rate:
2.5%
(2017 est.)
4.2%
(2016 est.)
3.5%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.4%
(2017 est.)
2.6%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$591 million
(2017 est.)
$576.6 million
(2016 est.)
$553.6 million
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$455 million
(2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,900
(2017 est.)
$5,700
(2016 est.)
$5,400
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 150
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
19.9%
(2017 est.)
industry:
20.3%
(2017 est.)
services:
59.8%
(2017 est.)
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.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
72.6
(2020)
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.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Labor force:
33,800
(2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
2,006%
(2006 est.)
industry:
27.5%
(2006 est.)
services:
2,006%
(2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.1%
(2011 est.)
1.1%
(2006)
country comparison to the world: 13
Population below poverty line:
22.5%
(2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%:
NA
Budget:
revenues:
181.2 million
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
181.2 million
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
39.8% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Public debt:
48% of GDP
(FY2017 est.)
51.8% of GDP
(FY2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Current account balance:
-$53 million
(2017 est.)
-$30 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Exports:
$18.4 million
(2017 est.)
$19.4 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 25.1%, NZ 22.6%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.8%, Australia 10.5%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops, kava
Imports:
$250.2 million
(2017 est.)
$269.8 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - 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:
$198.5 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$176.5 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Debt - external:
$189.9 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$198.2 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
2.27015
(2020 est.)
2.29095
(2019 est.)
2.22717
(2018 est.)
2.106
(2014 est.)
1.847
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
98.9%
(2018)
electrification - urban areas:
98.9%
(2018)
electrification - rural areas:
98.9%
(2018)
Electricity - production:
52 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - consumption:
48.36 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
20,300 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
74% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
26% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
900 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Refined petroleum products - imports:
910 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
139,700 Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
6,748
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
6.35
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
63,156
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
59.43
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
high speed Internet provided by 3 MNOs, has subsequently allowed for better health care services, faster connections for education and growing e-commerce services; in 2018 new 4G LTE network; fixed-line teledensity has dropped given mobile subscriptions; mobile technology dominates given the island's geography; satellite technology is widespread and is important especially in areas away from the city; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 broadband satellite has made broadband more widely available for around 89 remote communities
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 59 telephones per 100; fully automatic switched network
(2019)
international:
country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
(2020)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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
Internet users:
total:
43,889
percent of population:
41.25%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
2,519
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
2
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Transportation
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)
country comparison to the world: 178
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
1
(2019)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
5
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
3
(2013)
under 914 m:
1
(2013)
Roadways:
total:
680 km
(2011)
paved:
184 km
(2011)
unpaved:
496 km
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 189
Merchant marine:
total:
36
by type:
bulk carrier 4, general cargo 14, oil tanker 1, other 17
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 127
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Military and Security
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 and security service personnel strengths:
the Tonga Defense Services have approximately 500 personnel
(2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the Tonga military's inventory includes mostly light weapons and equipment from European (primarily the UK) countries and the US, as well as naval patrol vessels from Australia; Australia is the only supplier of military systems since 2010
(2019)
Military service age and obligation:
Volunteers, 18-25; no conscription
(2014)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
maritime boundary dispute with Fiji
++
