The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tonga:
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/LocationTonga.png/220px-LocationTonga.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Tonga.jpg/220px-Tonga.jpg)
Tonga is a sovereign island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean.[1] Tonga comprises the Tonga Archipelago of 169 islands, 36 of them inhabited, stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 mi) in a north–south line. The islands lie south of Samoa and are about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii.
Tonga is the only surviving monarchy among the island nations of the Pacific Ocean, as well as being the only island nation never to have been formally colonized.
The islands are also known as the Friendly Islands because of the friendly reception accorded to Captain Cook on his first visit in 1773. He happened to arrive at the time of the ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tu'i Tonga, the islands' paramount chief, and was invited to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but had been unable to agree on a plan.[2]
General reference
edit- Pronunciation:
- Common English country name: Tonga
- Official English country name: The Kingdom of Tonga
- Common endonym(s): Tonga
- Official endonym(s): Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga
- Adjectival(s): Tongan
- Demonym(s): Tongan
- Etymology: Name of Tonga
- ISO country codes: TO, TON, 776
- ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:TO
- Internet country code top-level domain: .to
Geography of Tonga
edit- Tonga is: an island country of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited
- Location:
- Southern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere
- Pacific Ocean
- Time zone: UTC+13
- Extreme points of Tonga
- High: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m (3,389 ft)
- Low: South Pacific Ocean 0 m
- Land boundaries: none
- Coastline: South Pacific Ocean 419 km
- Population of Tonga: 100,000 - 187th most populous country
- Area of Tonga: 748 km2
- Atlas of Tonga
Environment of Tonga
edit- Climate of Tonga
- Renewable energy in Tonga
- Geology of Tonga
- Protected areas of Tonga
- Wildlife of Tonga
Natural geographic features of Tonga
edit- Islands of Tonga
- Lakes of Tonga
- Mountains of Tonga
- Rivers of Tonga
- Valleys of Tonga
- World Heritage Sites in Tonga: None
Regions of Tonga
editEcoregions of Tonga
editAdministrative divisions of Tonga
editAdministrative divisions of Tonga
- Ha'apai
- Tongatapu
- Vava'u
- Capital of Tonga: Nukuʻalofa
- Cities of Tonga
Demography of Tonga
editGovernment and politics of Tonga
edit- Form of government: constitutional monarchy
- Capital of Tonga: Nukuʻalofa
- Elections in Tonga
- Political parties in Tonga
Branches of the government of Tonga
editExecutive branch of the government of Tonga
edit- Head of state: King of Tonga, Tupou VI
- Head of government: Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Tuʻivakano
- Cabinet of Tonga
Legislative branch of the government of Tonga
editJudicial branch of the government of Tonga
edit- Privy Council of Tonga
- Court of Appeal of Tonga (supreme court)
Foreign relations of Tonga
editInternational organization membership
editThe Kingdom of Tonga is a member of:[1]
Law and order in Tonga
edit- Capital punishment in Tonga
- Constitution of Tonga
- Crime in Tonga
- Human rights in Tonga
- Royal Tonga Police Service
Military of Tonga
edit- His Majesty's Armed Forces
- Command
- Commander-in-chief: Tupou VI
- Minister for HMAF: Siaosi Sovaleni
- Chief of the Defense Staff: Lord Fielakepa
- Forces
- Tongan Land Force
- Tongan Royal Guards
- Royal Tongan Marines
- Combined Logistics and Technical Support
- Tongan Maritime Force
- Air Wing of Tonga
- Special forces of Tonga
- Tongan Land Force
- Command
- Military history of Tonga
- Military ranks of Tonga
Local government in Tonga
editHistory of Tonga
editCulture of Tonga
edit- Architecture of Tonga
- Cuisine of Tonga
- Festivals in Tonga
- Languages of Tonga
- Media in Tonga
- National symbols of Tonga
- People of Tonga
- Public holidays in Tonga
- Records of Tonga
- Religion in Tonga
- World Heritage Sites in Tonga: None
Art in Tonga
edit- Art in Tonga
- Cinema of Tonga
- Literature of Tonga
- Music of Tonga
- Television in Tonga
- Theatre in Tonga
Sports in Tonga
editEconomy and infrastructure of Tonga
edit- Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 185th (one hundred and eighty fifth)
- Agriculture in Tonga
- Banking in Tonga
- Communications in Tonga
- Companies of Tonga
- Currency of Tonga: Pa'anga
- ISO 4217: TOP
- Energy in Tonga
- Mining in Tonga
- Tourism in Tonga
- Transport in Tonga
Education in Tonga
editHealth in Tonga
editNuku'alofa and Neiafu have hospitals equipped with limited emergency and outpatient facilities. Elsewhere, medical facilities and medications are extremely limited. People with serious medical conditions are typically referred to New Zealand for treatment.[3]
Infrastructure of Tonga
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Tonga". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 14, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ Mr Korovulavula - Occasion of the Inaugural Flight Fiji/Tonga/Fiji Reception by Airlines Tonga, Accessed 16 April 2008. Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Tonga". Smarttraveller. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
External links
edit- CIA World Factbook: Tonga
- Matangi Tonga - National magazine
- Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Ministry of Finance, Kingdom of Tonga
- Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, Kingdom of Tonga
- National Reserve Bank of Tonga, Kingdom of Tonga
- Official Tongan Government Portal
- Tonga at Curlie
- Tonga Legislation
- Tonga Coronation of King George Tupou V