Tonga

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: 190

Area - comparative

four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

419 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
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

106,398 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

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: 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:

Dependency ratios

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.)

Median age

total: 23.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 22.9 years
female: 23.8 years
country comparison to the world: 174

Population growth rate

-0.1% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Birth rate

21.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Net migration rate

-17.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 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(2019)
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: 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.)

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: 10.9 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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.6 years (2018 est.)
male: 75 years
female: 78.3 years
country comparison to the world: 85

Total fertility rate

3.03 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Contraceptive prevalence rate

34.1% (2012)

Drinking water source

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.)

Current Health Expenditure

5.3% (2016)

Physicians density

0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

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

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: 113

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.3%
female: 99.4% (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 (2018)

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

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

Economy - 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 (purchasing power parity)

$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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$455 million (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2017 est.)
4.2% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

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: 167

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

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: 201

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: 12

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8% (31 December 2017 est.)
7.9% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Stock of narrow money

$130.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Stock of broad money

$130.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Stock of domestic credit

$139.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$135.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$53 million (2017 est.)
-$30 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

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: 208

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$127.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$117.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Exchange rates

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.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 97% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 98.6% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 96.6% (2016)

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: 204

Electricity - from fossil fuels

74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

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: 207

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: 203

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: 205

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 11,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 80,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Telephone system

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)

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: 42,552
percent of population: 40% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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)

Military service age and obligation

Volunteers, 18-25; no conscription (2014)

Transportation

National air transport system

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A3 (2016)

Airports

6 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 177

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

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: 183

Merchant marine

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

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

maritime boundary dispute with Fiji 

Flag of Tonga