Kingdom of Tonga

Sovereign: George Tupou V (2006)

Prime Minister: Feleti Sevele (2006)

Land area: 277 sq mi (717 sq km); total area: 289 sq mi (748 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 114,689 (growth rate: 2.0%); birth rate: 25.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 12.3/1000; life expectancy: 69.8; density per sq mi: 414

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Nuku'alofa, 24,500

Monetary unit: Pa'anga

Languages: Tongan (an Austronesian language), English

Ethnicity/race: Polynesian, European

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

Literacy rate: 99% (1996 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2002 est.): $244 million; per capita $2,300. Real growth rate: 1.4% (FY03/04 est.). Inflation: 10.3%. Unemployment: 13% (FY03/04 est.). Arable land: 20%. Agriculture: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish. Labor force: 33,910 (1996); agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1997 est.). Industries: tourism, fishing. Natural resources: fish, fertile soil. Exports: $34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops. Imports: $122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals. Major trading partners: Japan, China, U.S., Taiwan, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia (2004).

Member of Commonwealth of Nations

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 8,000 (1996); mobile cellular: 302 (1996). Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001). Radios: 61,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 2 (2001). Televisions: 2,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000). Internet users: 1,000 (2000).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 680 km; paved: 184 km; unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai. Airports: 6 (2002).

International disputes: none.

 

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