The ‘Kingdom of Tonga' also known as the 'Friendly Islands'. is made up of Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u and the two Niuas (Niua Toputapu and Niua Fo'ou) islands.

The ‘Kingdom of Tonga' also known as the 'Friendly Islands'. is made up of Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u and the two Niuas (Niua Toputapu and Niua Fo'ou) islands.

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