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Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga | |
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| Motto Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku tofiʻa God and Tonga are my Inheritance | |
| Anthem Ko e fasi ʻo e tuʻi ʻo e ʻOtu Tonga The Song of the King of the Tongan Islands | |
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| Capital | Nukuʻalofa |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy |
| King | |
| - From 2006 | George Tupou V |
| Prime Minister | |
| - From 2010 | Lord Tuʻivakanō |
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly |
| History | |
| - June 4, 1970 | Indpendence |
| Commonwealth accession | June 4, 1970 |
| Area | 748 km² |
| Population | |
| - 2010 | 104,000 |
| Density | 139/km² |
| GDP | 2010 (PPP) |
| - Total | US$ 0.7 billion |
| - Per capita | US$ 7,060 |
| Currency | Tongan pa'anga |
 British Western Pacific Territories
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The Kingdom of Tonga is a constitutional monarchy in Polynesia.
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.[1]
Economy
Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.[2]
King
- George Tupou V (₩) (September 11, 2006 - )
Prime Minister
- Lord Tuʻivakanō (₩) (December 22, 2010 - )
Nation
Tongan Polities
British Western Pacific Territories
Neighbouring Nations
References
- The World Factbook (CIA)
- Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments (CIA)
- U.S. Department of State
- Australian Government
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Inter-Parliamentary Union - Legislative Assembly
- BBC News Country Profile
- BBC News Time Line
- World Statesmen.org
- Psephos Election Archive
- Wikipedia