Geography

Economics

Demographics

Military

Politics

Surface

Surface (in square kilometers)

Surface (in square miles)

Surface (water)

Water Surface (in square kilometers)

Water Surface (in square miles)

Share of water (%)

Temperature

Average temperature (in Celcius)

Average temperature (in Farenheit)

Average high temperature (in Celcius)

Average high temperature (in Farenheit)

Average low temperature (in Celcius)

Average low temperature (in Farenheit)

Rainfall

Average rainfall (mm)

Average rainfall (inch)

Distance to other capitals (kilometers)

Distance to other capitals (miles)

Proximity

Economic organizations

Gross Domestic Product (US$)

Gross Domestic Product per capita

Amount of memberships (economic organizations)

Absolute earnings for every 1$

Relative earnings

GDP in PPP per capita (in US$)

 

GDP in PPP per capita

Gross Domestic product (in million US$)

GDP per capita (in US$)

Surface GDP

GDP per square kilometer (in US$)

GDP per square mile(in US$)

Relative GDP in PPP

Population

Population density

Emigration

Immigration

Literacy

Health

Population density (in km2)

Population density (in mi2)

Religion

Christianity (share of the total population)

Islam (share of the total population)

Buddhism (share of the total population)

Hinduism (share of the total population)

Judaism (share of the total population)

Other religions (share of the total population)

Non-religious (share of the total population)

Military spending (in % of GDP)

Military spending

It does not have an official military budget. 

The military of Tonga, the Tonga defence services, mostly consists of ground forces and a Navy. Its main task is to defend its territorial integrity, but it has also assisted in military missions in Afghanistan. Most of its training and equipment is supplied by Australia, China and the United States.

Military membership

Tonga is also a member of 2 international military organizations. This makes it the 189th most militarily connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons 
  • Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 

Military membership

International wars

Tonga has not partaken in international wars. 

Number of international wars fought

Military spending (in US$ million)

Membership (international political organizations)

In total, Tonga is a member of 11 international political organizations. This makes it the 125th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Member state of the United Nations 
  • International Labour Organization 
  • Pacific Islands Forum 
  • Pacific Regional Environment Programme 
  • Pacific Community 
  • Commonwealth of Nations 
  • Interpol 
  • Global Green Growth Institute 

Political Membership

Democracy/dictatorship rating

Aside from democratic attempts, the current situation gives absolute power to the king of Tonga. The government exists but is mostly limited to electing members of the royal family. Aside from this, there have not been large infringements into individual rights, but there have been discrepancies between the treatment of men and women by the government. 

Democracy/Dictatorship

The politics of Tonga take place in the form of a constitutional monarchy where the king is head of state, and the Prime Minister is head of government. Despite the existence of democratic movements, the king holds absolute power. 

  • Alliance of Small Island States 

  • Association of World Election Bodies 

  • Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation 

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If you want to know more about other states, click on the flag on the right to discover Trinidad and Tobago.

Tonga 

Known for its volcanic activity as well as being the only state in the Pacific that has never been colonized, Tonga, or the kingdom of Tonga has had a long period of stability. The island is inhabited by the Polynesians people which have been present there for more than 3000 years. Its first contact with the Europeans was at the start of the 17th century by Dutch explorers. The British set foot on the island at the end of the 18th century and helped set up the royal dynasty of Tonga. After becoming a British protectorate at the start of the 20th century, it withdrew its status in 1970. Since then, the island has been ruled by the royal dynasty which has put limitations on organizations that plea for more democratic movements. At the start of the 21st century, Tonga has had economic setbacks which have limited its economy. Other setbacks have been volcanic eruptions which have damaged a large portion of its infrastructure.

 Consisting of more than 150 islands which are located in the Pacific Ocean, the geography of Tonga mainly consists of flat terrain with most of the land being densely forested with the exception of inhabited islands which are mostly cultivated. 

It is the 174th largest state with a total surface area of 751 square kilometers or 289 square miles. This makes Tonga slightly smaller than Singapore and slightly larger than Dominica. 

It has a total water surface area of 30 square kilometers or 12 square miles. This makes Tonga the 142nd largest state in the world. 

 

Below, a graph is shown which displays the absolute amount of water of each state in square kilometers and square miles.

Most of its drinking water comes from rainwater or is extracted from underground aquifers. With a growing population, there is an increase in demand for fresh water which is currently being supplied by the government of Tonga as well as the United Nations. 

The climate of Tonga is a tropical climate which has a wet and a dry season. The average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes Tonga the 58th warmest state in the world. 

During its wet season, which is from November to April, the average high temperature is 23.9 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 

During its dry season, from May to October, the average low temperature is 22.7 degrees Celsius or 72.9 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Tonga receives approximately two thirds of its rainfall between November and April. On average, Tonga receives 176.6 centimetres or 69.5 inches of rainfall per year which ranks it as the 39th highest in the world. 

The capital of Tonga, Nuku'alofa, is home to roughly 25,000 people. The closest capital is Suva, Fiji, with a distance of 741 kilometers or 460 miles. The capital that is the furthest removed is Niamey, Niger, with a distance of 19.114 kilometers or 11.877 miles.  

The economy of Tonga is a developing economy which is highly dependent on the export of agricultural goods and fishery. Other sources of income are tourism with a remainder in the services sector. Most of its exported goods are fish, vanilla and Coconuts which are mainly exported to New Zealand, Japan, China and the United States which combined represent roughly 80 percent of all exports. Most of its imports comes from New Zealand which is solely responsible for nearly 30 percent of all imports. 

Tonga is a member of 10 international economic organizations. This makes it the 164th most connected state in the world. It is a member of the following organizations: 

  • Asian Development Bank 
  • International Monetary Fund 
  • World Bank Group 
  • World Customs Organization 
  • World Trade Organization 
  • International Bamboo and Rattan Organization 
  • Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States 
  • International Renewable Energy Agency 
  • International Solar Alliance 
  • Group of 77 

It has a GDP of US$488 million, which makes it the 187th highest in the world and represents 0.00058 percent of total global GDP.  

Its GDP per surface area is the 81st highest in the world with US$649.583 per square kilometer or US$1.684.857 per square mile.  

Its GDP per capita is the 106th highest in the world with US$4.548. 

The absolute earnings (GDP per capita) reflect the average yearly income. The figure below shows how much, on average, an inhabitant of another state earns for every $1 earned by a citizen of this state.

Its purchasing power parity per capita is the 136th highest in the world with US$6.113. 

The relative Gross Domestic Product in Purchasing Power Parity compares the purchasing power of this state with that of the rest of the world. The graph on the left shows how much purchasing power of 1$ compared to the purchasing power of other states

It is the 182nd most populous state in the world with a total population of 107,000 people. Nearly 99 percent of its population consists of ethnic Tongans which have a Polynesian ancestry. Despite having Tongan as its official language, a large portion of its population also speaks English. 

It has the 61st highest population density in the world with 142 people per square kilometer or 369 people per square mile.  

61 percent of its population, or just over 60,000 people, have migrated to other states. This makes Tonga the 165th state with the highest number of emigrants and represents 0.024 percent of total global emigration. The main reason for migration has been education as well as job opportunities and the largest recipients of Tongan migrants have been New Zealand, the United States and Australia. 

Immigration to Tonga has been largely limited and has mainly come from neighbouring Island states. With a total of 2000 migrants, Tonga is the 157th state with the highest number of immigrants which represent 0.001 percent of total global immigration. 

The health care system of Tonga has improved over the last decades which has led to a diminishing communicable disease and the rise of noncommunicable diseases. These are mainly related to obesity and smoking which have led to cardiovascular diseases. Other health risks are related to external factors such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The average life expectancy is 71.3 years which is the 116th highest in the world. Women have an average life expectancy of 73.4 years, while men have an average life expectancy of 69.3 years. 

The government of Tonga provides freedom of religion towards all religions, but it has favoured with Christian organizations and traditions above other religions. 

Christianity is the largest religion in Tonga and represents 82.6 percent of the population. This makes Tonga the 39th most Christian state in the world. The largest denomination has been the Methodist church. Christianity has a large influence over Tonga where the Sunday Sabbath is strictly enforced, and deviations can be fined or can lead to imprisonment. 

Islam is represented by 0.1 percent of the population which makes it the 174th most Islamic state in the world. Islam is a growing religion in Tonga and in recent years has attracted large donations abroad for the construction of Islamic study centers. 

Buddhism is represented by 0.07 percent of the population. 

Hinduism is represented by 0.1 percent of the population. 

Irreligion is represented by 0.05 percent of the population. 

The literacy rate in Tonga is the 30th highest in the world and stands at 98.9 percent. Its education is free and compulsory for children between the age of six and 14. The vast majority of children are able to go to school with the exception of remote islands with a low population rate. 

There are no official Jewish organizations in Tonga. 

Other religions are represented by 0.6 percent of the population and are mainly adherents of the Baha'i faith.