ee island groups; Haapai, Tongatapu,
Vavau

_#_Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK; formerly Friendly Islands)

_#_Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

_#_Legal system: based on English law

_#_National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

_#_Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Prince Fatafehi TU'IPELEHAKE
(since 16 December 1965)

_#_Political parties and leaders: Democratic Reform Movement,
'Akolisi POHIVA

_#_Suffrage: all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females
over 21

_#_Elections:

Legislative Assembly--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

_#_Communists: none known

_#_Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Siosaia a'Ulupekotofa
TUITA resides in London;

US--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
hoist-side corner

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about
70% of the labor force and contributes 50% to GDP. Coconuts, bananas, and
vanilla beans are the main crops and make up two-thirds of exports. The
country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New
Zealand. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism
is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the island remains
dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to sustain its trade
deficit.

_#_GDP: $86 million, per capita $850; real growth rate 3.6%
(FY89 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (FY89)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $30.6 million; expenditures $48.9 million,
including capital expenditures of $22.5 million (FY89 est.)

_#_Exports: $9.6 million (f.o.b., FY90 est.);

commodities--coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, bananas, taro,
vanilla beans