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Compare Tonga (2005) - Spratly Islands (2003)

Compare Tonga (2005) z Spratly Islands (2003)

 Tonga (2005)Spratly Islands (2003)
 TongaSpratly Islands
Administrative divisions 3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u -
Age structure 0-14 years: 36.2% (male 20,738/female 19,907)


15-64 years: 59.7% (male 33,226/female 33,853)


65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,031/female 2,667) (2005 est.)		 -
Agriculture - products squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish -
Airports 6 (2004 est.) 3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
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: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 748 sq km


land: 718 sq km


water: 30 sq km		 total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
Area - comparative four times the size of Washington, DC NA
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. The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 50 islands are occupied by China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts. (2002)
Birth rate 25.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Budget revenues: $39.9 million


expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)		 -
Capital Nuku'alofa -
Climate tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) tropical
Coastline 419 km 926 km
Constitution 4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967 -
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga


conventional short form: Tonga


former: Friendly Islands		 conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Death rate 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Debt - external $63.4 million (2001) -
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga -
Diplomatic representation in the US 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 all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the island; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"
Economic aid - recipient Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02) -
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, a continuing upturn in inflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government. Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Electricity - consumption 23.06 million kWh (2002) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - production 24.79 million kWh (2002) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m		 lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 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 NA
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 Polynesian, Europeans about 300 -
Exchange rates pa'anga per US dollar - 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000) -
Executive branch chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)


head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since 3 January 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister James C. COCKER (since NA January 2001)


cabinet: cabinet consists of 16 members, 12 appointed by the monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly including 2 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 for life by the monarch		 -
Exports NA -
Exports - commodities squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops -
Exports - partners Japan 37.1%, China 18.7%, US 17.7%, Taiwan 8.7%, New Zealand 7.4% (2004) -
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June -
Flag description red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 23%


industry: 13%


services: 64% (2002 est.)		 -
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 1.5% (2002 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 20 00 S, 175 00 W 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Geography - note archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited) strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
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		 -
Imports NA -
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals -
Imports - partners New Zealand 37.1%, Fiji 24.3%, Australia 9.1%, China 8.9%, US 6.3% (2004) -
Independence 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate) -
Industrial production growth rate 8.6% (FY98/99) -
Industries tourism, fishing -
Infant mortality rate total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)		 -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10.3% (2002 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, WTO (observer) -
Irrigated land NA 0 sq km (1998 est.)
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 33,910 (1996) -
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 65% (1997 est.) -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 23.61%


permanent crops: 43.06%


other: 33.33% (2001)		 arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages Tongan, English -
Legal system 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 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)


election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2		 -
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.53 years


male: 67.05 years


female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)		 -
Literacy definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English


total population: 98.9%


male: 98.8%


female: 99% (1996 est.)		 -
Location Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references Oceania Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation		 NA
Merchant marine total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 136,977 GRT/200,751 DWT


by type: cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1


foreign-owned: 7 (Cyprus 1, France 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Romania 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)		 -
Military - note - Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Military branches Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Air Wing) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA -
National holiday Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970) -
Nationality noun: Tongan(s)


adjective: Tongan		 -
Natural hazards cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Natural resources fish, fertile soil fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) -
Political parties and leaders there are no political parties -
Political pressure groups and leaders Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman] -
Population 112,422 (July 2005 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA -
Population growth rate 1.98% (2005 est.) -
Ports and harbors Nuku'alofa none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004) -
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: 0.76 male(s)/female


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)		 -
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal -
Telephone system 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: fully automatic switched network


international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)		 -
Telephones - main lines in use 11,200 (2002) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 9,000 (2004) -
Television broadcast stations 3 (2004) -
Terrain most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base flat
Total fertility rate 3 children born/woman (2005 est.) -
Unemployment rate 13.3% (1996 est.) -
Waterways - none
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