Tonga

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Tonga

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga/Kingdom of Tonga Area 750 sq km/290 sq mi Capital Nuku'alofa (on Tongatapu island) Language Tongan (official), English Religion mainly Free Wesleyan Church; Roman Catholic, Anglican Time difference GMT +13 Major holidays 1 January, 25 April, 5 May, 4 June, 4 July, 4 November, 4, 25–26 December; variable: Good Friday, Easter Monday


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Neiafu, Haveloloto, Vaini, Tofoa-Koloua Physical features three groups of islands in southwest Pacific, mostly coral formations, but actively volcanic in west; of the 170 islands in the Tonga group, 36 are inhabited Airports one international airport and five domestic airstrips; total passengers carried: 57,000 (2001 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 680 km/423 mi, of which 27% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 216.3 per 1,000 people (1999)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state King George Tupou V from 2006 Head of government Feleti Sevele from 2006 Political system absolutist Political executive absolute Administrative divisions five divisions comprising 23 districts Political parties legally none, but one pro-democracy grouping, the People's Party Death penalty retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes but can be considered abolitionist in practice; date of last known execution 1982 Armed forces 125-strong naval force Conscription military service is voluntary Education spend (% GDP) 4.9 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 5.5 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency pa'anga, or Tongan dollar GDP (US$) 244 million (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 1.9 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 224 million (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 8,040 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 7.2% (2006 est) Unemployment 13% (2004 est) Labour force 31.8% agriculture, 24.1% industry, 44.1% (2003) Foreign debt (US$) 81 million (2005 est) Major trading partners Japan, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Fiji Islands, Japan Industries concrete blocks, small excavators, clothing, coconut oil, furniture, textiles, handicrafts, sports equipment (including small boats), brewing, sandalwood processing, tourism Exports fish, squash, vanilla beans, coconut oil and other coconut products, watermelons, knitted clothes, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, footwear. Principal market: Japan 51.4% (2004) Imports food, beverages, tobacco, basic manufactures, machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels. Principal source: New Zealand 46.7% (2004) Arable land 20% (2006 est) Agricultural products coconuts, copra, cassava, vanilla, pumpkins, yams, taro, sweet potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, lemons and limes, oranges, groundnuts, breadfruit; livestock rearing (pigs, goats, poultry, and cattle); fishing


POPULATION

Population 102,600 (2006 est) Population growth rate 3.2% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 137 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 34 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 36%, 15–59 55%, 60+ 9% (2005 est) Ethnic groups 98% of Tongan ethnic origin, a Polynesian group with a small mixture of Melanesian; the remainder is European and part-European Life expectancy 72 (men); 74 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 25 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 9 Literacy rate 99% (men); 99% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 3.5 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 3.2 (2001 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 100 (urban); 100 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 11.3 (2004 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 16.4 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 663 (1999 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 70 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 5 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 3 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

c. 1000 BC Settled by Polynesian immigrants from the Fiji Islands. c. AD 950 The legendary Aho'eitu became the first hereditary Tongan king (Tu'i Tonga). 13th–14th centuries Tu'i Tonga kingdom at the height of its power. 1643 Visited by the Dutch navigator, Abel Tasman. 1773 Islands visited by British navigator Capt James Cook, who named them the ‘Friendly Islands’. 1826 Methodist mission established. 1831 Tongan dynasty founded by a Christian convert and chief of Ha'apai, Prince Taufa'ahau Tupou, who became king 14 years later. 1845–93 Reign of King George Tupou I, during which the country was reunited after half a century of civil war; Christianity was spread and a modern constitution adopted in 1875. 1900 Friendship (‘Protectorate’) treaty signed between King George Tupou II and Britain, establishing British control over defence and foreign affairs, but leaving internal political affairs under Tongan control. 1918 Queen Salote Tupou III ascended the throne. 1965 Queen Salote died; she was succeeded by her son, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who had been prime minister since 1949. 1970 Tonga achieved independence from Britain, but remained within the Commonwealth. 1991 Baron Vaea was appointed prime minister. 1993 Six pro-democracy candidates elected. Calls for reform of absolutist power. 1996 Pro-democracy movement led by People's Party won majority of ‘commoner’ seats in legislative assembly. Pro-democracy campaigner Akilisis Pohiva released after a month's imprisonment. 2000 Prime Minister Baron Vaea retired; replaced by Prince Ulakalala Lavaka Ata. 2001 Financial scandal involving loss of $26 million of state money in investments made by king's official court jester, a US businessman; in 2004, he agreed to pay $1 million to settle legal dispute. 2003 Constitutional changes increased the king's powers and state control of the media. 2004 Royal Tongan Airlines, the national airline, ran out of cash and closed. 2005 For the first time, elected members of parliament entered cabinet; previously selected by royal family. Strike by public sector workers followed by march of thousands of people demanding democratic reform. Following ten years of negotiations, Tonga was admitted to World Trade Organization (WTO). 2006 Fred Sevele became Tonga's first elected commoner prime minister. King Taufa'ahua Tupou IV died; succeeded by Crown Prince Tupouto'a. Eight people killed in rioting in capital; state of emergency declared. 2007 State of emergency extended, while foreign investment was sought to help reconstruct the capital's business district.


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