fe expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.79 years
male:
65.5 years
female:
70.24 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.68 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tongan(s)
adjective:
Tongan
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:
Tongan, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
57%
male:
60%
female:
60%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining)

*Tonga, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form:
Tonga
former:
Friendly Islands
Digraph:
TN
Type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Nuku alofa
Administrative divisions:
three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:
4 June 1970 (from UK)
Constitution:
4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:
based on English law
National holiday:
Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Reform Movement, 'Akilisi POHIVA; Christian Democratic Party,
leader NA
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 3-4 February 1993); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (29 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform, 3
traditionalist
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 Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S.
Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London
US diplomatic representation:
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

*Tonga, Economy

Overview:
The economy's base is agriculture, wh