TONGA. Kingdom of Tonga
A state in Oceania, in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, located on the islands of Tonga, which consist of 3 main groups: Tongatapu, Ha'apai, and Vava'u, along with 150 volcanic and coral islands. Total area - 748 km². The capital is Nuku'alofa on the island of Tongatapu (about 30,000, including suburbs). Administrative-territorial division - 6 districts.
Population - 100,000 (2004); 85% - Tongans (Polynesians). Official languages - Tongan and English.
Religion: the majority of believers are Christians, mainly Protestant Methodists. Currency - paʻanga = 100 seniti.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on December 2, 1975).
National holiday - June 4 - Independence Day (1970).
Tonga (translated from Tongan as "friendship") - a state within the Commonwealth, headed by Great Britain (it has its own head of state). The constitution of 1975 (with subsequent amendments and changes) is in effect. In terms of governance, it is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king (since December 1965 - Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV)*
The legislative body is a unicameral Legislative Assembly (consisting of 30 members: the king, members of the cabinet of ministers and the king's personal council, 9 members elected by the nobility, and 9 members elected by the population for a term of 3 years). Executive power is exercised by the king and the cabinet of ministers headed by the prime minister (Prince U. Aga).
The first European to visit the islands of Tongatapu was the Dutch navigator A. Tasman in 1643. By the mid-19th century, the island groups were united under the rule of the king. There was a persistent struggle for control of Tonga between Great Britain, Germany, and the USA. In May 1900, the king of Tonga signed a treaty with Great Britain establishing its protectorate over the kingdom. In 1958, a new friendship treaty was concluded, expanding Tonga's internal autonomy but leaving foreign relations and defense still under the prerogative of the British government. The agreement of 1968 provided for the gradual cessation of British control over the kingdom, which in March 1970 announced the termination of its protectorate. On June 4, 1970,
Tonga was proclaimed an independent state.
An agrarian country. In 2004, GDP reached 210 million New Zealand dollars (or 2,100 dollars per capita). The inflation rate is about 10%. GDP growth - 8%. The basis of the economy is agriculture. The industrial sector accounts for 9% of GDP.
Fishing is developing. Exploration work is underway to discover oil, copper and iron ore, silver, and zinc deposits. The main exports are copra, tropical fruits, mini-excavators, beer, and seafood. The country is visited by about 8,000 tourists annually. Their income amounts to about 15 million paʻanga per year.
The total length of roads is 500 km, of which 180 km are paved. There are international airports in Nuku'alofa and Fua'amotu.
A weekly government newspaper "Tonga Chronicle" (7,200 copies) is published in the country, as well as a weekly "Times of Tonga." There is a radio station.