World Country Guide

General Information

Area
748 sq km (289 sq miles).

Population
100,281 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density
134.1 per sq km.

Capital
Nuku'alofa. Population: 22,400 (1996).

Geography
Tonga is an archipelago of 172 islands in the South Pacific, most of which are uninhabited, covering an area of 7700 sq km (3000 sq miles). The major island groups are 'Eua, Ha'apai, the Niuas, Tongatapu and Vava'u. Tonga's high volcanic and low coral forms give the islands a unique character. Some volcanoes are still active and Falcon Island in the Vava'u group is a submerged volcano that erupts periodically, its lava and ash rising above sea level forming a visible island which disappears when the eruption is over. Nuku'alofa, on Tongatapu Island, has a reef-protected harbour lined with palms. The island is flat with a large lagoon, but no running streams, and many surrounding smaller islands. 'Eua Island is hilly and forested with high cliffs and beautiful beaches. The Ha'apai Islands, a curving archipelago 160km (100 miles) north of Tongatapu, have excellent beaches. Tofua, the largest island in the group, is an active volcano with a hot steaming lake in its crater. The Vava'u Islands, 90km (50 miles) north of Ha'apai, are hilly, densely wooded and interspersed with a maze of narrow channels. They are known for their stalagmite-filled caves.

Government
Constitutional monarchy. Gained full independence within the Commonwealth in 1970. Head of State: King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV since 1965. Head of Government: Prime Minister HRH Prince 'Ulukalala-Lavaka-Ata since 2000.

Language
Tongan and English.

Religion
Wesleyan Church, Roman Catholic and Anglican. Small denominations of Muslim, Baha'i and Mormon faiths.

Time
GMT + 13.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 676. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900. Network operators include Tonga Communications Corporation (website: www.tcc.to).

Fax
Services are provided by Cable & Wireless.

Internet
ISPs include Tonga Communications Corporation.

Post
Main post office hours (located in the centre of Nuku'alofa): Mon-Fri 0830-1600. All mail must be collected from the post office. Airmail to Europe takes approximately 10 days. There are branch offices on Ha'apai and Vava'u.

Press
The Matangi Tonga, The Times of Tonga and Tonga Chronicle are the English-language newspapers.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.