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.
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Oceania
total: 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
country comparison to the world: 190
four times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
419 km
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m
arable land, fish
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.)
0 sq km (2012)
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
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
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
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
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
106,398 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified (2016 est.)
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
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.)
0-14 years: 33.26%(male 17,979 /female 17,404)
15-24 years: 19.69%(male 10,725 /female 10,223)
25-54 years: 34.69%(male 18,436 /female 18,469)
55-64 years: 5.81%(male 3,098 /female 3,089)
65 years and over: 6.56%(male 3,140 /female 3,835) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 74.2 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 63.9 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 10.2 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 9.8 (2015 est.)
total: 23.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 22.9 years
female: 23.8 years
country comparison to the world: 174
-0.1% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
21.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
-17.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
urban population: 23.1% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)
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: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
24.9 years (2012 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
total: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 127
total population: 76.6 years (2018 est.)
male: 75 years
female: 78.3 years
country comparison to the world: 85
3.03 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
34.1% (2012)
improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)
5.3% (2016)
0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
improved: urban: 97.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 89% of population (2015 est.)
total: 91% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 11% of population (2015 est.)
total: 9% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus
48.2% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 7
1.9% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 113
NA
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.3%
female: 99.4% (2015)
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
constitutional monarchy
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"
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
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)
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 (2018)
English common law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
21 years of age; universal
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
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%
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
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
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
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
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
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
red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
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)
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.
$591 million (2017 est.)
$576.6 million (2016 est.)
$553.6 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 211
$455 million (2017 est.)
2.5% (2017 est.)
4.2% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
$5,900 (2017 est.)
$5,700 (2016 est.)
$5,400 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 167
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.)
agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, sweet potatoes, cassava, taro, and kava
tourism, construction, fishing
5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
33,800 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
agriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.)
industry: 27.5% (2006 est.)
services: 2,006% (2006 est.)
1.1% (2011 est.)
1.1% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 12
22.5% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: 181.2 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 181.2 million (2017 est.)
39.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
48% of GDP (FY2017 est.)
51.8% of GDP (FY2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
1 July - 30 June
7.4% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
8% (31 December 2017 est.)
7.9% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$130.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$130.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$139.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$135.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
NA
-$53 million (2017 est.)
-$30 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$18.4 million (2017 est.)
$19.4 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Hong Kong 25.1%, NZ 22.6%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.8%, Australia 10.5% (2017)
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops, kava
$250.2 million (2017 est.)
$269.8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
NZ 33.3%, Fiji 11.7%, US 9.8%, Singapore 9%, Australia 8.9%, China 7.9%, Japan 5.9% (2017)
$198.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$127.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$117.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
2.228 (2017 est.)
2.216 (2016 est.)
2.216 (2015 est.)
2.106 (2014 est.)
1.847 (2013 est.)
electrification - total population: 97% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 98.6% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 96.6% (2016)
52 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
48.36 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0 kWh (2016)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
20,300 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
900 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
910 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
139,700 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
total subscriptions: 11,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
total subscriptions: 80,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
general assessment: high speed Internet provided by 3 MNOs, which has subsequently allowed for better health care services, faster connections for education and growing e-commerce services; fixed-line teledensity has dropped given mobile subscriptions; mobile technology dominates given the island geography; satellite technology is widespread and is important especially in areas away from the city (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 14 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 70 telephones per 100; fully automatic switched network (2018)
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); in 2013 undersea fibre-optic cable links Tonga to Fiji and Sydney (2017)
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)
.to
total: 42,552
percent of population: 40% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
total: 3,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF): Territorial Forces, Land Force (includes Tonga Royal Guards, Royal Tonga Marines, and a Combined Log and Tech Support Unit), Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing and Support Unit (2019)
Volunteers, 18-25; no conscription (2014)
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 75,416 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0mt-km (2015)
A3 (2016)
6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 177
total: 1 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
total: 5 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 680 km (2011)
paved: 184 km (2011)
unpaved: 496 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 183
total: 33
by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 15, oil tanker 1, other 15 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 123
major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
maritime boundary dispute with Fiji