000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.97 years
male:
65.64 years
female:
70.43 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.62 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tongan(s)
adjective:
Tongan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write simple message in Tongan or English
(1976)
total population:
57%
male:
60%
female:
60%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)

@Tonga, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:
Tonga
former:
Friendly Islands
Digraph:
TN
Type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions:
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
Suffrage:
all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21
Executive branch:
chief of state:
King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
head of government:
Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime
Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the king
Privy Council:
consists of the king and the cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea):
elections last held 14-15 February 1990 (next to be held NA February
1993); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6
proreform, 3 traditionalist
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic
Party, leader NA
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS,
SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
consulate(s) general:
San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited
to Tonga and makes periodic visits
Flag:
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper