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.

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

four times the size of Washington, DC

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

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

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

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

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

120,898 (July 2010 est.)

19.84 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

2 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Polynesian, Europeans

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

constitutional monarchy

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

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

21 years of age; universal

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, 9 members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)

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)

People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]; Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA]

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

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

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; white signifies purity

Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. 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. 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. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. 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.

$760.5 million (2009 est.)

$764.4 million (2008 est.)

$755.3 million (2007 est.)

$313 million (2009 est.)

12.46% (31 December 2008)

12.16% (31 December 2007)

$36.16 million (31 December 2008)

$46.38 million (31 December 2007)

$100.7 million (31 December 2008)

$106.8 million (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$163.1 million (31 December 2007)

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

tourism, construction, fishing

43 million kWh (2007 est.)

39.99 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$23 million (2007 est.)

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Hong Kong 25.42%, US 22.65%, Japan 12.21%, NZ 7.31%, Fiji 7.2%, Samoa 6.06%, South Korea 4.48% (2009)

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Fiji 34.37%, NZ 25.03%, US 9.43%, Australia 7.53%, China 5.64% (2009)

$40.83 million (FY04/05)

$80.7 million (2004)

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)

2 state-owned television stations and 2 privately-owned stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 2 state-owned and 3 privately-owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts obtainable via a satellite feed (2009)

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2009)

16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental approval); no conscription (2010)

0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)