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Compare Christmas Island (2005) - Tonga (2008)

Compare Christmas Island (2005) z Tonga (2008)

 Christmas Island (2005)Tonga (2008)
 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: 34.6% (male 20,624/female 19,779)


15-64 years: 61.2% (male 35,551/female 36,052)


65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,087/female 2,828) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products NA squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
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. Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Birth rate NA 23.67 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $56.97 million


expenditures: $83.88 million (FY04/05)
Capital The Settlement name: Nuku'alofa


geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W


time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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


local long form: Pule'anga Tonga


local short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
Death rate NA 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external - $80.7 million (2004)
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 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 NA $31.75 million (2005)
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 has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It 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. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. 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, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.
Electricity - consumption - 32.55 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production - 35 million kWh (2005)
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
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 (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
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 George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)


head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16 May 2006)


cabinet: Cabinet consists of 14 members, 10 appointed by the monarch for life; four appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly, including two 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 by the monarch
Exports NA 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities phosphate squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners Australia, NZ US 39.7%, Japan 27.8%, NZ 8.2%, South Korea 7.6% (2006)
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 - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 23%


industry: 27%


services: 50% (FY03/04 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 2.4% (2005 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)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA 842.3 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities consumer goods foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners principally Australia Fiji 30.3%, NZ 27.7%, US 8.2%, Australia 7.5%, France 5.7%, UK 4.7% (2006)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Industrial production growth rate - 1% (2003 est.)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, fishing
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 11.99 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 10.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 11.1% (2005 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, ADB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen and approved by Privy Council)
Labor force NA 33,910 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture: 65%


industry and services: 35% (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: 20%


permanent crops: 14.67%


other: 65.33% (2005)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Tongan, English
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on English common 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 (32 seats - 14 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 on 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)


election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%, other 30%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 70.12 years


male: 67.6 years


female: 72.76 years (2007 est.)
Literacy NA definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.9%


male: 98.8%


female: 99% (1999 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: 14 ships (1000 GRT or over) 58,756 GRT/67,889 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1


foreign-owned: 3 (Australia 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Tonga Defense Services (TDS): Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force (includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2008)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.9% (2006 est.)
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Emancipation 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 (2007 est.)
People - note the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census -
Political parties and leaders none People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders none Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
Population 361 (July 2005 est.) 116,921 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line - 24% (FY03/04)
Population growth rate 0% (2005 est.) 1.847% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 4, 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: 1.043 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.986 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.738 male(s)/female


total population: 0.993 male(s)/female (2007 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: 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: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network


international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 13,700 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 29,900 (2005)
Television broadcast stations NA 3 (2004)
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 2.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate - 13% (FY03/04 est.)
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