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.

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

Area:
Total: 748 sq km

land: 718 sq km

water: 30 sq km

Maritime: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (June to November)

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

Natural resources: fish, fertile soil

Land use: arable land: 20%

permanent crops: 14.7%

other: 65.3% (2005)

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

Population: 101,991 (2006 census)

Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 38,000 adherents)

Languages: Tongan, English

Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population: 98.6% (2006 census)

male: 98.4%

female: 98.8%

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form: Tonga

local long form: Pule'anga Tonga

local short form: Tonga

former: Friendly Islands

Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital name: Nuku'alofa

geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W

time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Constitution: 4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Legal system: based on English common law

Executive branch:

Head of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)

Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Vakauta SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)

Cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two each from the nobles' and peoples' representatives serving three-year terms

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

Elections: last held on 24 April 2008

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas)

International organization participation:
ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO