Tonga
Country Guide

Explore Tonga

Tonga with its capital is located in Oceania (Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean). It covers some 748 square kilometers (four times the size of Washington, DC) with a population of 106,479. Tonga and English are the languages spoken by people in Tonga. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. The country is divided into four island groups, or regions. Apart from a few historical sites on Tongatapu most things to do in Tonga reflect its island nature. Diving, snorkelling, fishing, boat trips, kayaking and kite surfing are all possible. There are some lovely beaches if you just want to laze around. Tonga has some good restaurants and this is the place to come if you like lobster. Take time to learn a little about Tonga's fairly feudal culture and its many traditions. Go to church. Even if you are not religious the singing can be very moving. Watch tapa cloth being made from mulberry bark and try a drink of kava, the traditional drink, which is a mild narcotic.

Popular Destinations in Tonga

Administrative regions of Tonga

• Eua
• Ha`apai
• Niuas
• Tongatapu
• Vava'u

About the country

The topography is mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation with others have limestone overlying volcanic rock. The average density of population is about 143 per km². The climate in Tonga can be described as tropicalmodified by trade winds, warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December). Potential natural disasters are cyclones (October to April), earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou and 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.

To reach someone Tonga dial +676 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".to". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 240 V - 50 Hz (plugs: I). The sign for the locally used currency Pa'anga is TOP.

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 - 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 190)	747	sq km
Land (World Rank: 187)	717	sq km
Water (World Rank: 147)	30	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 153)	5.60	%
Comparative	four times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
419
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 160)	1,046	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 94)	43.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 49)	22.20	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 18)	15.30	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 153)	5.60	%
Map reference
Oceania
Environment
Issues	- deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement - overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations - some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Law of the Sea - Marine Dumping - Marine Life Conservation - Ozone Layer Protection - Ship Pollution
Hazzards	- cyclones (October to April) - earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou - 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
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 191)	106,479
Deathrate (World Rank: 192)	0.49	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 68)	2.22	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 196)	-0.05	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 183)	-1.78	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 50)	3.10	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 172)	22.50
Female (World Rank: 167)	23.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 186)	18,323
0 14 female (World Rank: 186)	17,741
15 24 male (World Rank: 188)	10,715
15 24 female (World Rank: 188)	10,209
25 54 male (World Rank: 197)	18,243
25 54 female (World Rank: 197)	18,278
55 64 male (World Rank: 205)	3,048
55 64 female (World Rank: 204)	3,083
65 x male (World Rank: 200)	3,090
65 x female (World Rank: 201)	3,749
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 125)	1.13	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 85)	76	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 109)	78	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 69)	75	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 127)	0.56
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 86)	2.60
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 93)	91.00	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 6)	48.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 53)	99.60	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 205)	50,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 204)	46,500,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 83)	82.40	%
Source renew (World Rank: 35)	17.60	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 197)	1,500	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 194)	1,457	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 170)	2	m³
Carbon footprint
200000

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Nation

Budget
Health (World Rank: 133)	5	% of GDP
National symbol
red cross on white field
National colours
white
Adjective
Tongan
Noun
Tongan(s)
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.
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; white signifies purity

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 211)	560,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 91)	3.10	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 166)	5,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 51)	19.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 149)	20.40	%
Source service (World Rank: 127)	60.00	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 199)	33,800
In poverty (World Rank: 82)	24.00	%
Products
Industries	- construction - fishing - tourism
Agriculture	- bananas - cassava - cocoa - coconuts - coffee - copra - kava - squash - sweet potatoes - taro - vanilla beans
Exports	- fish - root crops - squash - vanilla beans
Imports	- chemicals - foodstuffs - fuels - machinery - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 191)	11,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 133)	10.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 173)	75.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 195)	42,552
Population (World Rank: 138)	40.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 227)	1.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 153)	5.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 191)	680
Paved length (World Rank: 170)	184.00
Unpaved length (World Rank: 131)	496

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