IDPs: 1,500 (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Tokelau (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tokelau
Background:
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island
groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in
1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands
from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with
New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.
Geography ::Tokelau
Location:
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12 sq km
country comparison to the world: 240
land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to
emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a
lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length
and rising to over 3 m above sea level
People ::Tokelau
Population:
1,416 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.011% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on
Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with
the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Tokelau
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New
Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward
free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self
governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority
vote necessary for changing the political status
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator
David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note -
position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,
consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village
mayors), functions as a cabinet
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of
government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a
one-year term
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional
representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to
serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven
seats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of
1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: independents 20
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal
jurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward
the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white,
five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents
the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the
country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates
happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on
which the community relies
Economy ::Tokelau
Economy - overview:
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of
resources greatly restrain economic development and confine
agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid
from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public
services with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The
principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage
stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to
families from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
440 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 220
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Budget:
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats;
fish
Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
$0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 223
Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Imports:
$969,200 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811
(2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Communications ::Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:
300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 228
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;
government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth
stations - 3
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to
all islands) (2002)
Internet country code:
.tk
Internet hosts:
360 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Internet users:
800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 215
Transportation ::Tokelau
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Tokelau
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Tokelau
Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its
2006 draft constitution
page last updated on November 10, 2009
======================================================================
@Tonga (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Tonga
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.
Geography ::Tonga
Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of
the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 747 sq km
country comparison to the world: 189
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
419 km
Maritime claims:
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 (May to December)
Terrain:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral
formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on
Fonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People ::Tonga
Population:
120,898 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.8% (male 20,270/female 19,428)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 37,837/female 38,166)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 2,163/female 3,034) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.3 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.482% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Birth rate:
19.84 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
5.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 147
male: 12.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.73 years
country comparison to the world: 140
male: 68.18 years
female: 73.41 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.25 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 71
Government ::Tonga
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
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)
Administrative divisions:
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti 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; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the
Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles' and peoples'
representatives serving three-year terms
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,
the cabinet, and 2 governors
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14 reserved
for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles selected by
the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote; members
serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 23-24 April 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote -
independents 54%, THRDM 28%, PDP 14%; seats - THRDM 4, independents
3, PDP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal
(Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and
approved by Privy Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Uliti UATA];
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA,
chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Viliami
MALOLO
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is
accredited to Tonga
Flag description:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper
hoist-side corner
Economy ::Tonga
Economy - overview:
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
41,000 visitors in 2004. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$548.1 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
$543.7 million (2007 est.)
$545.4 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$258 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
-0.3% (2007 est.)
3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,600 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$4,600 (2007 est.)
$4,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (FY05/06 est.)
Labor force:
39,960 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 189
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31.8%
industry: 30.6%
services: 37.6% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
13% (FY03/04 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Population below poverty line:
24% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $80.48 million
expenditures: $109.8 million (FY07/08 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.46% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
12.16% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$36.16 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
$46.38 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$100.7 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 120
$106.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$163.1 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee,
ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:
tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - production:
43 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - consumption:
39.99 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - imports:
1,173 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$22 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 203
Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:
US 29.6%, Japan 12%, NZ 12%, Fiji 7.1%, Samoa 6%, Australia 4.8%,
South Korea 4.4%, Hong Kong 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$139 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 204
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Fiji 36.8%, NZ 23.9%, US 9.3%, Australia 8.8%, China 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$40.83 million (yearend, FY04/05)
country comparison to the world: 153
Debt - external:
$80.7 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 189
Exchange rates:
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005),
1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Communications ::Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,500 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 183
Telephones - mobile cellular:
50,500 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 193
Telephone system:
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications
Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is
accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval
to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and
television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the
mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by
government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International (TTI)
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
exceeds 60 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched
network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2004)
Internet country code:
.to
Internet hosts:
20,107 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
Internet users:
8,400 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Tonga
Airports:
6 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 680 km
country comparison to the world: 188
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 13
country comparison to the world: 109
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 8, carrier 1, liquefied gas 1,
passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Cyprus 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Nuku'alofa
Military ::Tonga
Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force
(includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 32,053
females age 16-49: 30,981 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 26,471
females age 16-49: 27,715 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,458
female: 1,403 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Transnational Issues ::Tonga
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================