Compare Saint Barthelemy (2008) - Tonga (2001)

Saint Barthelemy (2008)

Tonga (2001)

Administrative divisions

-

3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Age structure

-

0-14 years:
40.93% (male 21,739; female 20,916)

15-64 years:
54.99% (male 28,231; female 29,082)

65 years and over:
4.08% (male 1,912; female 2,347) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Airports

1

6 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1

under 914 m: 1

total:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

-

total:
5

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)

Area

21 sq km

total:
748 sq km

land:
718 sq km

water:
30 sq km

Area - comparative

less than an eighth of the size of Washington, DC

four times the size of Washington, DC

Background

Discovered in 1493 by Christopher COLUMBUS who named it for his brother Bartolomeo, St. Barthelemy was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, the French sold the island to Sweden, who renamed the largest town Gustavia, after the Swedish King GUSTAV III, and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1878 and placed it under the administration of Guadeloupe. St. Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appelations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the populace of the island voted to secede from Guadeloupe and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity.

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

-

23.59 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

-

revenues:
$49 million

expenditures:
$120 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY96/97 est.)

Capital

name: Gustavia

geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight savings: +1 hour, starts 20 March and ends 17 October

Nuku'alofa

Climate

tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Coastline

-

419 km

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Country name

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy

conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy

local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy

local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

conventional long form:
Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form:
Tonga

former:
Friendly Islands

Currency

-

pa'anga (TOP)

Death rate

-

5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

-

$62 million (1998)

Dependency status

overseas collectivity of France

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas collectivity of France)

Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Fetu'utolo TUPOU, resides in London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High Commission, 36 Molyneux Street, London W1H 6AB, telephone [44] (171) 724-5828, FAX [44] (171) 723-9074

consulate(s) general:
San Francisco

Disputes - international

-

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$38.8 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The economy of Saint Barthelemy is based upon high-end tourism and duty-free luxury commerce, serving visitors primarily from North America. The luxury hotels and villas host 70,000 visitors each year with another 130,000 arriving by boat. The relative isolation and high cost of living inhibits mass tourism. The construction and public sectors also enjoy significant investment in support of tourism. With limited fresh water resources, all food must be imported, as must all energy resources and most manufactured goods. Employment is strong and attracts labor from Brazil and Portugal.

Tonga has a small, open economy with a narrow export base in agricultural goods, which contributes 30% to GDP. 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 industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings. The country remains dependent on sizable 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 reasonable basic infrastructure and well-developed social services.

Electricity - consumption

-

32.6 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

-

35 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m

highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Environment - current issues

with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water, collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

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

white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

pa'anga per US dollar - 1.9885 (January 2001), 1.7585 (2000), 1.5991 (1999), 1.4920 (1998), 1.2635 (1997), 1.2323 (1996)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)

head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)

cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council

elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term

election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the Territorial Council on 16 July 2007

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

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

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch

Exports

-

$8 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

-

squash, fish, vanilla beans

Exports - partners

-

Japan 53%, US 18%, NZ 6%, Australia 6% (1997 est.)

Fiscal year

-

1 July - 30 June

Flag description

the flag of France is used

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $225 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture:
30%

industry:
10%

services:
60% (1997)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

5% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

17 90 N, 62 85 W

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Geography - note

-

archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

Highways

-

total:
680 km

paved:
184 km

unpaved:
496 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%

Imports

-

$69 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

-

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners

-

NZ 30%, Australia 19%, US 11%, UK 11%, Japan 3% (1997 est.)

Independence

none (overseas collectivity of France)

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Industrial production growth rate

-

8.6% (FY98/99)

Industries

-

tourism, fishing

Infant mortality rate

-

14.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

7% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

UPU

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

-

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

-

34,000 (FY96/97)

Labor force - by occupation

-

agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

-

arable land:
24%

permanent crops:
43%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
11%

other:
16% (1993 est.)

Languages

French (primary), English

Tongan, English

Legal system

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

based on English law

Legislative branch

unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 1 and 8 July 2007 (next to be held July 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by party - SBA 16, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 1, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 1, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 1

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 NA March 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote - pro-democratic 40%; seats - pro-democratic 5, traditionalist 4

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population:
68.25 years

male:
65.83 years

female:
70.78 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

-

definition:
can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population:
98.5%

male:
98.4%

female:
98.7% (1996 est.)

Location

located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe

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

-

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM

Merchant marine

-

total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,626 GRT/29,468 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 2, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

-

Military branches

-

Tonga Defense Services (includes Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note - a new Air Wing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is being developed

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

NA%

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August

Independence Day, 4 June (1970)

Nationality

-

noun:
Tongan(s)

adjective:
Tongan

Natural hazards

-

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

Natural resources

has few natural resouces, its beaches being the most important

fish, fertile soil

Net migration rate

-

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Action-Equilibre-Transparence [Maxime DESOUCHES]; Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy [Benoit CHAUVIN]; Saint-Barth d'Abord! or SBA [Bruno MAGRAS]; Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy [Karine MIOT-RICHARD]

Human Rights and Democracy Movement [Huliki WATAB, chairman, Viliami FUKOFUKA, president, 'Akilisi POHIVA, vice president]

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

Pro-Democracy and Human Rights Movement [leader NA]

Population

6,852 (1999 March census)

104,227 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

1.79% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

-

61,000 (1997)

Railways

-

0 km

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

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:
0.97 male(s)/female

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

total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age, universal

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

general assessment: fully integrated access

domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems

international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

-

8,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

302 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

-

1 (2001)

Terrain

hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20 beaches