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Compare Christmas Island (2005) - Tonga (2004)

Compare Christmas Island (2005) z Tonga (2004)

 Christmas Island (2005)Tonga (2004)
 Christmas IslandTonga
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,873; female 20,050)


15-64 years: 58.7% (male 32,018; female 32,707)


65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,005; female 2,584) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products NA squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 6 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC four times the size of Washington, DC
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. 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 NA 24.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)
Capital The Settlement Nuku'alofa
Climate tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline 138.9 km 419 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Currency - pa'anga (TOP)
Death rate NA 5.45 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external - $63.4 million (2001)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Sonatane T. T. TUPOU


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 NA Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future 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 and the continuing upturn in inflation are major issues facing the government.
Electricity - consumption - 25.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 27.27 million kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 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 Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000) pa'anga per US dollar - NA (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000), 1.5991 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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 James C. COCKER (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 NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners Australia, NZ US 50%, Japan 35.7%, Italy 3.6% (2003)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 July - 30 June
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory 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: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 3% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
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 NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners principally Australia New Zealand 43.4%, Fiji 22.2%, Australia 11.1%, US 6.1% (2003)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate - 8.6% (FY98/99)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 12.99 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 10.3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none 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, WTrO (observer)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court 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 NA 33,910 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (2001)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Tongan, English
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on English law
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
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 - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, traditionalist 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 69.2 years


male: 66.74 years


female: 71.79 years (2004 est.)
Literacy NA definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.5%


male: 98.4%


female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine - total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 136,977 GRT/200,751 DWT


by type: bulk 3, cargo 21, chemical tanker 2, container 1, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


foreign-owned: Albania 1, Australia 4, Brazil 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1, Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 1, Panama 2, Romania 1, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Switzerland 3, Syria 1, United (2004 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard), Maritime Force (including Air Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Independence Day, 4 June (1970)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Natural resources phosphate, beaches fish, fertile soil
Net migration rate NA 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census -
Political parties and leaders none there are no political parties
Political pressure groups and leaders none Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chair]
Population 361 (July 2005 est.) 110,237 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA
Population growth rate 0% (2005 est.) 1.94% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Sex ratio NA 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: 0.78 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage - 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (1996)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 11,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 3,400 (2002)
Television broadcast stations NA 2 (2001)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Total fertility rate NA 3 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate - 13.3% (1996 est.)
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