Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/234.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 9KB | 279 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Tonga.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Tonga"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Tonga, click {z,"-176.733156,-22.904908,-158.621833,-8.786892",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from
Hawaii to New Zealand

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 748 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 718 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} four times the size of Washington, DC

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 419 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to
December)

{2}Terrain:{4} most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have
limestone overlying volcanic base
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} on Kao Island 1,033 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} fish, fertile soil

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 25%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 55%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 6%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 12%
{3}other:{4} 2%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and
settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors;
overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

{2}natural hazards:{4} cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling; signed,
but not ratified - Law of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 106,466 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} NA
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 0.82% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 27.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} NA male(s)/female

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 40.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 69.04 years
{3}male:{4} 67.03 years
{3}female:{4} 71.4 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.75 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Tongan(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Tongan

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Polynesian, Europeans about 300

{2}Religions:{4} Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

{2}Languages:{4} Tongan, English

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write a simple message in Tongan or English (1976 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 100%
{3}male:{4} 100%
{3}female:{4} 100%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Kingdom of Tonga
{3}conventional short form:{4} Tonga
{3}former:{4} Friendly Islands

{2}Type of government:{4} hereditary constitutional monarchy

{2}Capital:{4} Nuku'alofa

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

{2}Independence:{4} 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

{2}National holiday:{4} Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

{2}Constitution:{4} 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

{2}Legal system:{4} based on English law

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) is a constitutional monarch
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime
Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) were appointed for life by the king
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the king
Privy Council: consists of the king and the Cabinet

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February 1993 (next to be held NA
February 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (30 total, 12 reserved for cabinet ministers
sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine for elected people's
representatives) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca,
SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4} Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione
KITE, resides in London
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} San Francisco

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4} the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Tonga

{2}Flag:{4} red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 40% to GDP. Squash,
coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-
thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New
Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source
of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and
remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-95 largely because
of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The
government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the
reduction of the budget deficit.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $228 million (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 4% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $2,160 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 40% (1995 est.)
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 3% (1993)

{2}Labor force:{4} 32,013 (1990 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 70% (1995 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $44 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $86 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, fishing

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 6,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 30 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 231 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper

{2}Exports:{4} $20.3 million (f.o.b., FY93/94)
{3}commodities:{4} squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil
{3}partners:{4} Japan 59%, US 14%, Australia 6%, NZ 6% (FY93/94)

{2}Imports:{4} $57.8 million (c.i.f., FY93/94)
{3}commodities:{4} food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals
{3}partners:{4} NZ 44%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 7% (FY93/94)

{2}External debt:{4} $48.4 million (FY93/94)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti

{2}Exchange rates:{4} pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2753 (December 1995), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994),
1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 July - 30 June


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 432 km
{3}paved:{4} 280 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 152 km (1987 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,990 GRT/14,884 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 6
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 2 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 3,500 (1986 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 66,000 (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 0

{2}Televisions:{4} 1,000 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal
Guards, Police

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} NA
{3}males fit for military service:{4} NA

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP