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)

Polynesian, Europeans

Tongan (official), English (official)

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

106,146 (July 2012 est.)

24.7 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

4.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-17.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

3.55 children born/woman (2012 est.)

0.291 physicians/1,000 population (2002)

2.44 beds/1,000 population (2008)

constitutional monarchy

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

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

National Day, 4 November (1875)

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

21 years of age; universal

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats - 9 for nobles elected from among the country's 29 nobles, 17 members elected by popular vote to serve four-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)

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 [NA]; 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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, 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

red cross on white field; arms equal length

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.

$772.8 million (2011 est.)

$762.4 million (2010 est.)

$750.2 million (2009 est.)

$439 million (2011 est.)

26.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

0% of GDP (2011 est.)

11.37% (31 December 2011 est.)

11.53% (31 December 2010 est.)

$50.96 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$54.37 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$179.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$171.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$173.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$157 million (31 December 2010 est.)

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

tourism, construction, fishing

-$54.2 million (2011 est.)

$8.4 million (2011 est.)

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Hong Kong 19.9%, Japan 14.6%, US 10.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Fiji 8.9%, NZ 8.6%, Samoa 7.5%, Brazil 5.3%, American Samoa 4.7% (2011)

$139.6 million (2011 est.)

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Fiji 35.4%, NZ 24%, US 10.1%, China 7% (2011)

$86.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$104.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$104.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -

41 million kWh (2009 est.)

38.13 million kWh (2009 est.)

12,000 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

1,221 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

1,202 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

155,000 Mt (2010 est.)

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

Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2010)

16 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); no conscription; the king retains the right to call up "all those capable of bearing arms" in wartime (2012)

0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)