Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an embassy in
the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London
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

@Tonga:Economy

Economy-overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes
32% 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 industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism
is the primary source of hard currency earnings; the country also
remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset
its trade deficit. The economy grew at a declining rate in 1993-96.
The government has been turning its attention to further development
of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$239 million (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,250 (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 10%
services: 58% (1996)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997 est.)

Labor force:
total: 36,665 (1994)
by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.8% (FY93/94)

Budget:
revenues: $49 million
expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (FY96/97 est.)

Industries: tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (FY95/96)

Electricity-capacity: 7,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production: 30 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita: 284 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products: coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa,
coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Exports:
total value: $15.3 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut oil
partners: Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia 5% (1996
est.)

Imports:
total value: $82.9 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: food products, live animals, machinery and transport
equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals
partners: NZ 34%, Australia 16%, US 10%, UK 8%, Japan 6% (1996 est.)

Debt-external: $70 million (1995)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $37 mi