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Compare Bahamas, The (2002) - Tonga (2005)

Compare Bahamas, The (2002) z Tonga (2005)

 Bahamas, The (2002)Tonga (2005)
 Bahamas, TheTonga
Administrative divisions 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Age structure 0-14 years: 29% (male 43,964; female 43,250)


15-64 years: 64.7% (male 95,508; female 98,859)


65 years and over: 6.3% (male 7,948; female 11,000) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 36.2% (male 20,738/female 19,907)


15-64 years: 59.7% (male 33,226/female 33,853)


65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,031/female 2,667) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products citrus, vegetables; poultry squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 67 (2001) 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 30


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 34 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 3 23 (2002)
total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 13,940 sq km


land: 10,070 sq km


water: 3,870 sq km
total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut four times the size of Washington, DC
Background Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Birth rate 18.69 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 25.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $918.5 million


expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00)
revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital Nassau Nuku'alofa
Climate tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline 3,542 km 419 km
Constitution 10 July 1973 4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Country name conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas


conventional short form: The Bahamas
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Currency Bahamian dollar (BSD) -
Death rate 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $381.9 million (2000) $63.4 million (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard BLANKENSHIP


embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau


mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370


telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206


FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS


chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668


consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU


chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022


telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025


FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024


consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $9.8 million (1995) Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Economy - overview The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs almost half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences have led to solid GDP growth in recent years. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of the majority of tourist visitors. Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.
Electricity - consumption 1.432 billion kWh (2000) 23.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 1.54 billion kWh (2000) 24.79 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Environment - current issues coral reef decay; solid waste disposal deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Exchange rates Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar) pa'anga per US dollar - 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)


head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since 3 January 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister James C. COCKER (since NA January 2001)


cabinet: cabinet consists of 16 members, 12 appointed by the monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly including 2 each from the Nobles and Peoples representatives serving three year terms


note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the Cabinet, and two governors


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch
Exports $535.8 million (2000) NA
Exports - commodities fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables (1999) squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners US 28.2%, France 16.5%, Germany 14.1%, UK 12.4% (2000) Japan 37.1%, China 18.7%, US 17.7%, Taiwan 8.7%, New Zealand 7.4% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 July - 30 June
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP purchasing power parity - $5 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 7%


services: 90% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 23%


industry: 13%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $16,800 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.5% (2001) 1.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 15 N, 76 00 W 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography - note strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 2,693 km


paved: 1,546 km


unpaved: 1,147 km (1997)
total: 680 km


paved: 184 km


unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center -
Imports $1.88 billion (2000) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals (1999) foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners US 31.6%, South Korea 18.2%, Italy 17.4%, Japan 5.8% (2000) New Zealand 37.1%, Fiji 24.3%, Australia 9.1%, China 8.9%, US 6.3% (2004)
Independence 10 July 1973 (from UK) 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.6% (FY98/99)
Industries tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2001 est.) 10.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 19 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)
Labor force 156,000 (1999) 33,910 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.) agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0.6%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 99% (1998 est.)
arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (2001)
Languages English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants) Tongan, English
Legal system based on English common law based on English law
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)


elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)


election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.87 years


male: 66.32 years


female: 73.49 years (2002 est.)
total population: 69.53 years


male: 67.05 years


female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98.2%


male: 98.5%


female: 98% (1995 est.)
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.9%


male: 98.8%


female: 99% (1996 est.)
Location Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Oceania
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine total: 1,076 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,309,187 GRT/45,859,485 DWT


ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 246, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 13, combination ore/oil 22, container 80, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 88, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 120, roll on/roll off 49, short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 22


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 136,977 GRT/200,751 DWT


by type: cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1


foreign-owned: 7 (Cyprus 1, France 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Romania 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)
Military branches Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Air Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $20 million (FY95/96) NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.7% (FY99) NA
National holiday Independence Day, 10 July (1973) Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Nationality noun: Bahamian(s)


adjective: Bahamian
noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
Natural hazards hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Natural resources salt, aragonite, timber, arable land fish, fertile soil
Net migration rate -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]
Population 300,529


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
112,422 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate 0.86% (2002 est.) 1.98% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau Nuku'alofa
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios 215,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern facilities


domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed


international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television


domestic: fully automatic switched network


international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Telephones - main lines in use 96,000 (1997) 11,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6,152 (1997) 9,000 (2004)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 3 (2004)
Terrain long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Total fertility rate 2.28 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 6.9% (2001 est.) 13.3% (1996 est.)
Waterways none -
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