bles, and nine elected by
popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA March
1999)
election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--7 proreform, 2
traditionalist

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
monarch; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the
Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party [Viliami
FUKOFUKA]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an
embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in
London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High
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

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 remains dependent on sizable external aid and
remittances to offset its trade deficit. The government is
emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the
encouragement of investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$232 million (FY97/98 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1.5% (FY97/98 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,100 (FY97/98 est.)

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

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 36,665 (1994)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 11.8% (FY93/94)

Budget:
revenues: $49 m