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___ Tonga

Atata, the resort island is 7 km north of Tongatapu, Tonga's main island.
Image: Haanofonua

Flag of Tonga

Location map of Tonga

Destination Tonga, a virtual guide to the Polynesian kingdom formerly known as the Friendly Islands, an archipelago of more than 170 islands in the South Pacific Ocean south east of Fiji, south of Samoa, 2,000 km north east of Auckland, NZ and 3,280 km east of Brisbane, Australia.

Tonga was united under one chief in 1845. This must have been quite an achievement because the mostly flat limestone islands are scattered over 700,000 km² (270,000 sq mi) of the southern Pacific Ocean, this is about the size of Texas.

Tonga cut its official ties with the UK in 1970, but remains an active member of the Commonwealth.

However the country's total surface area is just about 750 km² (290 sq mi), smaller than one third of Luxembourg, or about four times the size of Washington, DC.

Tonga has a population of 100,000 inhabitants (in 2016). Capital city of Tonga is Nuku'alofa on the nation's main island Tongatapu. Spoken languages are Tongan and English (both official).

Kingdom of Tonga

Country Profile

Background:
The archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean south of Samoa is also known as the Friendly Islands, it comprises 176 islands, 36 of them are inhabited.

Tonga is the only kingdom in the Pacific since Taufa'ahau (King George) in 1875 declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy, he also gave Tonga its first constitution.

In 1970 the former British protectorate acquired its independence and became a sovereign nation.

Almost two-thirds of Tonga's population live on the main island Tongatapu, where also the capital city Nuku'alofa is located.

other Polynesian islands: American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Niue, Pitcairn, Samoa, and Tuvalu.

Official Name:
Kingdom of Tonga
short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

ISO Country Code: to

Time:
Local Time = UTC +13h
Actual Time: Sat-Apr-20 19:31

Country Calling Code: +676

Capital City: Nuku'alofa (pop. 25 000)

Government:
Type: Constitutional Monarchy (since 1875)
Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Geography:
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, south of Samoa.
Area: 747 km² (288 sq mi)
Terrain: Volcanic islands and low raised coral islands surrounding soaring volcanoes.

Climate: Subtropical, slightly cooler and less humid than most tropical areas. From November to April is cyclone season.

People:
Nationality: Tongan(s)
Population: 103,000 (2011 census)
Ethnic Groups: Polynesian 98%, Europeans
Religion: Christian
Languages: Tongan, English
Literacy: 98.5%

Exports - commodities: squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners: Japan 16%, US 15.4%, Fiji 12.8%, NZ 12.5%, South Korea 11%, Samoa 10.7%, Australia 7.5%, American Samoa 6.8% (2015)

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals Imports - partners: Fiji 37.7%, NZ 21.2%, China 14.2%, US 6.4%, Australia 4.5% (2015)

Natural resources: Fish, fertile soil.

Currency: Tongan Pa'anga (TOP)

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Tonga

Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
Prime Minister's Office, official government web site of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Ministry of Information and Communications
Tonga's new engine for transition into a more connected and empowered society.

Diplomatic Missions:
Tonga Consulate General in San Francisco
Tonga Consulate General.

Intergovernmental organisations
Pacific Islands Forum
Inter-governmental organization for the cooperation between the countries of the Pacific Ocean.
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Intergovernmental organisation of the Pacific islands.

Tonga Maps

Map of Tonga
Detailed map of Tonga.

Google Earth Tonga
sSearchable map and satellite view view of Tonga.

Google Earth Nuku'alofa
Searchable map and satellite view of Tonga's capital city.

Map of Polynesia
Map of the countries in Polynesia, the island states in the eastern part of Oceania.

Map of Oceania and the Pacific Islands
Reference map of Australia/Oceania.


Tonga News Planet Tonga newswire Tonga community portal with news and views. Matangi Tonga Breaking news from Tonga. Taimi 'o Tonga Times of Tonga Online (in Tongan). Tonga Star Tonga news in English and Tongan. tonganz.net Keeping Tongans informed at home and abroad. Pacific Islands Report Up-to-date news of all the islands of the South Pacific.	Bookmark/share this page


Arts & Culture Polynesian Cultural Center A portal to Polynesian culture.

Business & Economy

Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC)

Transportation
Airlines

Real Tonga Airlines
Tonga's Domestic Airline

Beach on the island of Vava'u, Tonga.
Image: Jansan

Travel and Tour Consumer Information

Destination Tonga - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Tonga: Eua, Ha'apai, Niuas, Tongatapu, Vava'u, Nuku'alofa
Find accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, cruising, diving, tours and much more.

Tonga Experience
Tonga tourism and traveler information by the Tonga Visitors Bureau.

Marketonga Travel
Travel and accommodation information for the Kingdom of Tonga.

Travel to Tonga, South Pacific islands
Veteran travel writer David Stanley about Tonga.

South Pacific
South Pacific Tourism Organisation
Inter-governmental body for the tourism sector in the South Pacific Islands, find information on: accommodation, activities, online bookings and news.

Travel advice
Travel advice for Tonga
Travel advice for Tonga by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia.

Tongan tauʻolunga dance.
Image: Tauʻolunga

Education

Atenisi Institute
An institute for critical education in the South Pacific (needs an update).
Tupou College Toloa
Oldest secondary operating College for boys in the Pacific Islands, founded in 1866.

University of the South Pacific
Premier institution of tertiary education in the Pacific region, jointly owned by the governments of twelve island countries, USP is an international centre of excellence for teaching, research and consulting on all aspects of Pacific life.
University of the South Pacific Libraries
The Main Library of the University of the South Pacific based at Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.


Environment & Nature Matangi Tonga News: Environment Articles related to Tonga's environment. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) The Pacific region's major intergovernmental organisation charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources.


History History of Tonga Wikipedia article about Tonga's history. Tonga - A Short Pre-History Gives you an insight of Tonga's history.

Search

Te Puna Web Directory
Tonga related index by the National Library of New Zealand.

Open Directory Project: Tonga

Sources and additional Information on Tonga

BBC Country Profile: Tonga

GlobalEDGE: Tonga

The Heritage Foundation: Tonga

OEC: Tonga

Wikipedia: Tonga

The World Factbook -- Tonga