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Compare Tonga (2004) - Gabon (2007)

Compare Tonga (2004) z Gabon (2007)

 Tonga (2004)Gabon (2007)
 TongaGabon
Administrative divisions 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 307,444/female 305,468)


15-64 years: 53.9% (male 391,194/female 393,103)


65 years and over: 4% (male 23,978/female 33,680) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Airports 6 (2003 est.) 53 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 10


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 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 (2004 est.)
total: 43


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Area total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km
total: 267,667 sq km


land: 257,667 sq km


water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative four times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Colorado
Background 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. Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.
Birth rate 24.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 35.96 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)
revenues: $3.027 billion


expenditures: $2.146 billion (2006 est.)
Capital Nuku'alofa name: Libreville


geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) tropical; always hot, humid
Coastline 419 km 885 km
Constitution 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967 adopted 14 March 1991
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic


conventional short form: Gabon


local long form: Republique gabonaise


local short form: Gabon
Currency pa'anga (TOP) -
Death rate 5.45 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 12.45 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $63.4 million (2001) $3.849 billion (2006 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY


embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville


mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville


telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92


FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA


chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000


FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668


consulate(s): New York
Disputes - international none UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Economic aid - recipient Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02) $53.87 million (2005)
Economy - overview 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. Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet, because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
Electricity - consumption 25.36 million kWh (2001) 1.241 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 27.27 million kWh (2001) 1.52 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Environment - current issues 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 deforestation; poaching
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Polynesian, Europeans about 300 Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Exchange rates pa'anga per US dollar - NA (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000), 1.5991 (1999) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)
Executive branch 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
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967)


head of government: Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%
Exports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners US 50%, Japan 35.7%, Italy 3.6% (2003) US 27.6%, China 15.9%, France 7.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2006)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 26%


industry: 12%


services: 62% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 6%


industry: 58.4%


services: 35.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2001 est.) 1.2% (2006 est.)
Geographic coordinates 20 00 S, 175 00 W 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Geography - note archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited) a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
Highways 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%
Imports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials
Imports - partners New Zealand 43.4%, Fiji 22.2%, Australia 11.1%, US 6.1% (2003) France 35.3%, US 7.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, Cameroon 4.5%, Belgium 4.4% (2006)
Independence 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate) 17 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 8.6% (FY98/99) 1.6% (2002 est.)
Industries tourism, fishing petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Infant mortality rate 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.)
total: 53.65 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 62.53 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 44.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10.3% (2002 est.) 4% (2006 est.)
International organization participation 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) ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 70 sq km (2003)
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) Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Labor force 33,910 (1996) 574,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 65% (1997 est.) agriculture: 60%


industry: 15%


services: 25%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 2,551 km


border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Land use arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (2001)
arable land: 1.21%


permanent crops: 0.64%


other: 98.15% (2005)
Languages Tongan, English French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Legal system based on English law based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, traditionalist 2
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.2 years


male: 66.74 years


female: 71.79 years (2004 est.)
total population: 53.99 years


male: 52.85 years


female: 55.17 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.5%


male: 98.4%


female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 63.2%


male: 73.7%


female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Location Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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.)
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2007)
Military branches Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard), Maritime Force (including Air Wing) Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 3.4% (2005 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 4 June (1970) Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Nationality noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)


adjective: Gabonese
Natural hazards cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou NA
Natural resources fish, fertile soil petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) -3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines - gas 272 km; oil 1,354 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders there are no political parties Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG (former sole party) [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chair] NA
Population 110,237 (July 2004 est.) 1,454,867


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 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 1.94% (2004 est.) 2.036% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2001) AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Railways - total: 814 km


standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Religions Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents) Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
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: 0.78 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.006 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.995 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.712 male(s)/female


total population: 0.987 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (1996)
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with three providers; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2006


domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations


international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 11,200 (2002) 36,500 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 3,400 (2002) 764,700 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2001) 4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)
Terrain most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Total fertility rate 3 children born/woman (2004 est.) 4.71 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 13.3% (1996 est.) 21% (2006 est.)
Waterways - 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2007)
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