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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) - Tonga (2003)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2002) z Tonga (2003)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2002)Tonga (2003)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryTonga
Administrative divisions - 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Age structure - 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 21,085; female 20,265)


15-64 years: 57.6% (male 30,785; female 31,532)


65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,973; female 2,501) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products - squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 1 (2001) 6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)		 total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago		 total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC four times the size of Washington, DC
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order which had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. 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 - 24.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget - revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Capital - Nuku'alofa
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline 698 km 419 km
Constitution - 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT		 conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Currency - pa'anga (TOP)
Death rate - 5.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $57.5 million (June 2001)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU


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


telephone: [1] (917) 369-1136


FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024


consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain none
Economic aid - recipient - Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. Tonga has a small, open economy with 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.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 25.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 27.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m		 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Environment - current issues NA 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, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups - Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Exchange rates - pa'anga per US dollar NA (2002), 2.12 (2001), 1.76 (2000), 1.6 (1999), 1.49 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch		 chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)


head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since NA February 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister Tevita TOPOU (since NA January 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet, appointed by the monarch, consists of 12 members


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 - NA (2001)
Exports - commodities - squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners - Japan 43.2%, US 41.2%, Greece 4% (2002)
Fiscal year - 1 July - 30 June
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
GDP - purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Highways total: NA km


paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km		 total: 680 km


paved: 184 km


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


highest 10%: NA%
Imports - NA (2001)
Imports - commodities - foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners - New Zealand 30.8%, Fiji 20.7%, US 14.2%, Australia 13.2%, China 6.1% (2002)
Independence - 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate - 8.6% (FY 98/99)
Industries - tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate - total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 8.4% (2001 est.)
International organization participation - ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch - 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 - 33,908 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: NEGL


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)		 arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (1998 est.)
Languages - Tongan, English
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on English law
Legislative branch - 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 7 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 70%; seats - pro-democratic 7, traditionalist 2
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 68.88 years


male: 66.43 years


female: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Literacy - definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.5%


male: 98.4%


female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Location Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Political Map of the World Oceania
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 3 NM		 continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 250,020 GRT/350,055 DWT


ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 44, chemical tanker 4, container 1, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 1, Australia 4, Austria 1, Bolivia 1, Cyprus 1, Djibouti 1, Egypt 2, Greece 4, Lebanon 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2, Morocco 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Romania 3, Russia 1, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 3, Syria 5, Ukraine 1, UAE 16, US 4 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Tonga Defense Services (made up of three operational command components and two support elements, including the Royal Marines, Royal Guards, Maritime Force, a support/logistics group, and a training group), Police; note - a new air wing that will be subordinate to the Ministry of Defense is being developed
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
National holiday - Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Nationality - noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
Natural hazards NA cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane fish, fertile soil
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders - there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders - Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM [Akilisi POHIVA, president]
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2002 est.)		 108,141 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 1.9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios NA -
Railways - 0 km
Religions - Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Sex ratio - 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: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)		 general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (1996)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 8,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 302 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 2 (2001)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Total fertility rate - 3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - 13.3% (1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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