Tonga

For other uses, seeTonga (disambiguation).

Not to be confused withTongoain Vanuatu.

Kingdom of Tonga Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga(Tongan)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:"Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku tofiʻa" "God and Tonga are my inheritance"
Anthem:"Ko e fasi ʻo e tuʻi ʻo e ʻOtu Tonga" "Song of the King of the Tongan Islands"
Capital and largest city	Nukuʻalofa 21°08′S175°12′W
Official languages	Tongan English
Ethnic groups (2018)	97%Tongan 0.7%Euronesians 2.3% others
Religion (2016)	96.9%Christianity —53.7%Methodism —18.6%Mormonism —14.2%Catholicism —10.4% otherChristian 2.2%Baháʼí Faith 0.5%no religion 0.3% others
Demonym(s)	Tongan
Government	Unitary parliamentarysemi-constitutional monarchy
•Monarch	Tupou VI
•Prime Minister	Siaosi Sovaleni
•Assembly Speaker	Fatafehi Fakafanua
Legislature	Legislative Assembly
Independence from theUnited Kingdom
•Independencedeclared	4 June 1970
Area
• Total	748 km2(289 sq mi) (175th)
• Water (%)	4.0
Population
• 2021 census	100,209(199th)
• Density	139/km2(360.0/sq mi) (76tha)
GDP(PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	$655 million
• Per capita	$6,496
GDP(nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$493 million
• Per capita	$4,888
Gini(2021)	27.1 low inequality
HDI(2022)	0.739 high(98th)
Currency	Paʻanga(TOP)
Time zone	UTC+13
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on	left
Calling code	+676
ISO 3166 code	TO
Internet TLD	.to
Based on 2005 figures.

Tonga(/ˈtɒŋə/TONG-ə,/ˈtɒŋɡə/TONG-gə;Tongan:[ˈtoŋa]), officially theKingdom of Tonga(Tongan:Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is anisland countryinPolynesia,part ofOceania.The country has171 islands– of which 45 are inhabited.Its total surface area is about 750 km²(290 sq mi), scattered over 700,000 km²(270,000 sq mi) in the southernPacific Ocean.As of 2021,according to Johnson's Tribune, Tonga has a population of 104,494,70% of whom reside on the main island,Tongatapu.The country stretches approximately 800 km (500 mi) north-south. It is surrounded byFijiandWallis and Futuna(France) to the northwest,Samoato the northeast,New Caledonia(France) andVanuatuto the west,Niue(the nearest foreign territory) to the east, andKermadec(New Zealand) to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 km (1,100 mi) from New Zealand'sNorth Island.

Tonga was first inhabited roughly 2,500 years ago by theLapitacivilization, Polynesian settlers who gradually evolved a distinct and strong ethnic identity,language,andcultureas theTonganpeople. They were quick to establish a powerful footing across the South Pacific, and this period of Tongan expansionism and colonization is known as theTuʻi Tonga Empire.From the rule of the firstTongan king,ʻAhoʻeitu,Tonga grew into a regional power. It was athalassocracythat conquered and controlled unprecedented swathes of the Pacific, from parts of theSolomon Islandsand the whole ofNew CaledoniaandFijiin the west to Samoa and Niue and even as far as parts of modern-dayFrench Polynesiain the east. Tuʻi Tonga became renowned for its economic, ethnic, and cultural influence over the Pacific, which remained strong even after the Samoan revolution of the 13th century and Europeans' discovery of the islands in 1616.

From 1900 to 1970, Tonga hadBritish protected-state status.The United Kingdom looked after Tonga's foreign affairs under aTreaty of Friendship,but Tonga never relinquished itssovereigntyto any foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step away from its traditionalabsolute monarchyand became asemi-constitutional monarchy,after legislative reforms paved the way for itsfirstpartialrepresentative elections.

Tonga is a member of theCommonwealth of Nations,theUnited Nations,thePacific Islands Forum,and theAlliance of Small Island States.

Etymology

In manyPolynesian languages,including Tongan, the wordtonga(Tongan:[ˈtoŋa]),comes fromfakatonga,which means 'southwards', and the archipelago is so named because it is the southernmost group among the island groups of western Polynesia.The wordtongais cognate to theHawaiianwordkonameaning 'leeward', which is the origin of the name for theKona District in Hawaiʻi.

Tonga became known in the West as the "Friendly Islands" because of the congenial reception accorded toCaptain James Cookon his first visit in 1773. He arrived at the time of the annualʻinasifestival, which centres on the donation of theFirst Fruitsto theTuʻi Tonga(the islands' monarch), so he received an invitation to the festivities. Ironically, according to the writerWilliam Mariner,the political leaders actually wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but did not go through with it because they could not agree on a plan of action for accomplishing it.

History

Main article:History of Tonga

The arrival ofAbel Tasmanin Tongatapu, 1643; drawing byIsaack Gilsemans

According toTongan mythology,the demigodMauidrew up a group of islands from the ocean, first appearingTongatapu,theHa'apai IslandsandVava'u,integrating into what became modern-day Tonga.

AnAustronesian-speaking group linked to what archaeologists call theLapita culturecovered fromIsland MelanesiatoSamoa,and then on to inhabit Tonga sometime between 1500 and 1000 BC.Scholars still debate exactly when Tonga was first settled, butthoriumdating confirms that settlers had arrived in the earliest known inhabited town, Nukuleka, by 888 BC, ± 8 years.Tonga's precontact history was shared viaoral history,which was passed down from generation to generation.

By the 12th century, Tongans and the Tongan monarch, theTuʻi Tonga,had acquired a reputation across the central Pacific – fromNiue,Samoa,Rotuma,Wallis and Futuna,New CaledoniatoTikopia,leading some historians to speak of a Tuʻi Tonga Empire having existed during that period. Civil wars are known to have occurred in Tonga in the 15th and 17th centuries.

William Marinerwas a teenaged English sailor adopted into a royal Tongan family.

The Tongan people first encountered Europeans in 1616, when the Dutch vesselEendracht,captained byWillem Schouten,made a short visit to the islands for the purpose of engaging in trade. Later, other Dutch explorers arrived, includingJacob Le Maire(who visited the northern island ofNiuatoputapu); andAbel Tasman(who visited Tongatapu andHaʻapai) in 1643. Later noteworthy European visitors included James Cook, of the British Royal Navy, in 1773, 1774, and 1777; Spanish Navy explorersFrancisco Mourelle de la Rúain 1781;Alessandro Malaspinain 1793; the first Londonmissionariesin 1797; and aWesleyan Methodistminister, Reverend Walter Lawry, in 1822.

Whalingvessels were among the earliest regular Western visitors. The first of these on record is theAnn and Hope,which was reported to have been seen among the islands of Tonga in June 1799.The last known whaling visitor was theAlbatrossin 1899. That ship arrived in Tonga seeking a resupply of water, food, and wood. The islands most regularly visited by Westerners were Ata, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and Vava'u. Sometimes, Tongan men were recruited to serve as crewmen on these vessels. TheUnited States Exploring Expeditionvisited Tonga in 1840.

In 1845, an ambitious young Tongan warrior, strategist, and orator namedTāufaʻāhauunited Tonga into a kingdom. He held the chiefly title ofTuʻi Kanokupolu,but had been baptised byMethodistmissionaries with the nameSiaosi( "George" ) in 1831. In 1875, with the help of missionaryShirley Waldemar Baker,he declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy, formally adopted the Western royal style, emancipated the "serfs", enshrined a code of law, land tenure, and freedom of the press, and limited the power of the chiefs.

Tonga became aprotected stateunder a Treaty of Friendship with Britain on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs unsuccessfully tried to oust the man who had succeeded Tāufaʻāhau as king. The treaty posted no higher permanent representative on Tonga than a Britishconsul(1901–1970). Under the protection of Britain, Tonga maintained its sovereignty and remained the only Pacific nation to retain its monarchical government. The Tongan monarchy follows an uninterrupted succession of hereditary rulers from one family.

The1918 flu pandemic,brought to Tonga by a ship from New Zealand, killed 1,800 Tongans, a mortality rate of about 8%.

The Treaty of Friendship and Tonga's protection status ended in 1970 under arrangements that had been established by Tonga's QueenSalote Tupou IIIbefore her death in 1965. Owing to its British ties, Tonga joined theCommonwealthin 1970 (atypically as a country that had its own monarch, rather than having theUnited Kingdom's monarch,along withMalaysia,Lesotho,andEswatini). Tonga became a member of the United Nations in September 1999.While exposed to colonial pressures, Tonga has always governed itself, which makes it unique in the Pacific.

In January 2022, theHunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapaivolcano, 65 km (40 mi) north of the main island of Tongatapu,erupted,causing atsunamiwhich inundated parts of the archipelago, including the capital Nukuʻalofa. The eruption affected the kingdom heavily, cutting off most communicationsand killing four people in Tonga.InPeru,two women drowned due to abnormal tsunami waves.It took around five weeks to repair asubmarine fiber optic cableused in theTonga Cable Systemfor internet and telephone connectivity.

Politics

Main article:Politics of Tonga

King George, of the Friendly Islands (1852)

Tonga is aconstitutional monarchy.It is the only extant indigenous monarchy in the Pacific islands (see alsoHawaiʻi). Reverence for the monarch replaces that held in earlier centuries for the sacred paramount chief, the Tuʻi Tonga. Criticism of the monarch is held to be contrary to Tongan culture and etiquette. Tonga provides for its citizens a free and mandatory education for all, secondary education with only nominal fees, and foreign-funded scholarships for postsecondary education.

Tāufaʻāhau,King of Tonga (1845–1893)

The pro-democracy movement in Tonga promotes reforms, including better representation in the Parliament for the majority of commoners, and better accountability in matters of state. An overthrow of the monarchy is not part of the movement, and the institution of monarchy continues to hold popular support, even while reforms are advocated. Until recently, the governance issue was generally ignored by the leaders of other countries, but major aid donors and neighbours New Zealand and Australia are now expressing concerns about some Tongan government actions.

Following the precedents of Queen Sālote and the counsel of numerous international advisors, the government of Tonga under KingTāufaʻāhau Tupou IV(reigned 1965–2006) monetised the economy, internationalised the medical and education systems, and enabled access by commoners to increasing forms of material wealth (houses, cars, and other commodities), education, and overseas travel.

Malehomosexualityis illegal in Tonga,with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment,but the law isnot enforced.Tongans have universal access to a national health care system. TheConstitution of Tongaprotects land ownership; land cannot be sold to foreigners (although it may be leased).

Political culture

King Tupou VIduring his coronation on 4 July 2015

King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV and his government made some problematic economic decisions and were accused by democracy activists, including former prime ministerʻAkilisi Pōhiva,of wasting millions of dollars on unwise investments. The problems have mostly been driven by attempts to increase national revenue through a variety of schemes – considering making Tonga a nuclear waste disposal site (an idea floated in the mid 1990s by the current crown prince),and selling Tongan Protected Persons Passports (which eventually forced Tonga to naturalise the purchasers, sparking ethnicity-based concerns within Tonga).

Schemes also included theregistering of foreign ships(which proved to be engaged in illegal activities, including shipments foral-Qaeda),claiming geo-orbital satellite slots(the revenue from which seems to belong to the Princess Royal, not the state),holding a long-term charter on an unusableBoeing 757that was sidelined inAucklandAirport, leading to the collapse ofRoyal Tongan Airlines,and approving a factory for exporting cigarettes to China (against the advice of Tongan medical officials and decades of health-promotion messaging).

The king proved vulnerable to speculators with big promises and lost reportedly US$26 million toJesse Bogdonoff,a financial adviser who called himself the king'scourt jester.The police imprisoned pro-democracy leaders, and the government repeatedly confiscated the newspaperThe Tongan Times(printed in New Zealand and sold in Tonga) because the editor had been vocally critical of the king's mistakes.Notably, theKeleʻa,produced specifically to critique the government and printed in Tonga by pro-democracy leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva, was not banned during that time. Pōhiva, however, had been subjected to harassment in the form ofbarratry(frequent lawsuits).

In mid-2003, the government passed a radical constitutional amendment to "Tonganize" the press, by licensing and limiting freedom of the press, so as to protect the image of the monarchy. The amendment was defended by the government and by royalists on the basis of traditional cultural values. Licensure criteria include 80% ownership by Tongans living in the country. As of February 2004,those papers denied licenses under the new act included theTaimi ʻo Tonga(Tongan Times), theKeleʻa,and theMatangi Tonga– while those permitted licenses were uniformly church-based or pro-government.

TheRoyal Palace of Tonga

The bill was opposed in a several-thousand-strong protest march in the capital, a call by the Tuʻi Pelehake (a prince, nephew of the king and elected member of parliament) for Australia and other nations to pressure the Tongan government to democratise the electoral system, and a legal writ calling for a judicial investigation of the bill. The latter was supported by some 160 signatures, including seven of the nine elected "People's Representatives".

The then-Crown PrinceTupoutoʻaand Pilolevu, the Princess Royal, remained generally silent on the issue. In total, the changes threatened to destabilise the polity, fragment support for the status quo, and place further pressure on the monarchy.

In 2005, the government spent several weeks negotiating with striking civil-service workers before reaching a settlement. The civil unrest that ensued was not limited to Tonga; protests outside the King's New Zealand residence made headlines.

Prime Minister PrinceʻAhoʻeitu ʻUnuakiʻotonga Tukuʻaho (Lavaka Ata ʻUlukālala)(now King Tupou VI) resigned suddenly on 11 February 2006 and also gave up his other cabinet portfolios. The elected minister of labour,Feleti Sevele,replaced him in the interim.

On 5 July 2006, a driver inMenlo Park, California,caused the deaths of PrinceTuʻipelehake ʻUluvalu,his wife, and their driver. Tuʻipelehake, 55, was the cochairman of the constitutional reform commission and a nephew of the king.

Riots in Nukuʻalofa, 2006

The public expected some changes when George Tupou V succeeded his father in September 2006. On16 November 2006, rioting broke outin the capital city ofNukuʻalofawhen it seemed that the parliament would adjourn for the year without having made any advances in increasing democracy in government. Pro-democracy activists burned and looted shops, offices, and government buildings. As a result, more than 60% of the downtown area was destroyed and as many as six people died.The disturbances were ended by action fromTongan Security Forcesand troops from New Zealand-led Joint Task Force.

On 29 July 2008, the Palace announced that King George Tupou V would relinquish much of his power and would surrender his role in day-to-day governmental affairs to the Prime Minister. The royal chamberlain said that this was being done to prepare the monarchy for 2010, when most of the first parliament would be elected, and added: "The Sovereign of the only Polynesian kingdom... is voluntarily surrendering his powers to meet the democratic aspirations of many of his people." The previous week, the government said the king had sold state assets that had contributed to much of the royal family's wealth.

On 15 March 2012, King George Tupou V contracted pneumonia and was brought toQueen Mary HospitalinHong Kong.He was later diagnosed with leukaemia. His health deteriorated significantly shortly thereafter, and he died at 3:15 pm on 18 March 2012.He was succeeded by his brotherTupou VI,who was crowned on 4 July 2015.

Foreign relations

Further information:Foreign relations of Tonga

Tonga's foreign policy as of January 2009was described byMatangi Tongaas "Look East" – specifically, as establishing closer diplomatic and economic relations with Asia (which actually lies to the north-west of the Pacific kingdom). As of 2021, China has attained great influence in Tonga, financing infrastructure projects, including a new royal palace and holding two thirds of the country's foreign debt.

Tonga retains cordial relations with the United States. Although it remains on good terms with the United Kingdom, the two countries do not maintain particularly close relations. The United Kingdom closed its High Commission in Tonga in 2006, although it was re-established in January 2020 after a 14-year absence. Tonga's relations with Oceania's regional powers, Australia and New Zealand, are good.

Tonga maintains strong regional ties in the Pacific. It is a full member of thePacific Islands Forum,theSouth Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission,theSouth Pacific Tourism Organisation,thePacific Regional Environment Programme,and theSecretariat of the Pacific Community.

In 2023, the governments of Tonga and other islands vulnerable to climate change (Fiji,Niue,theSolomon Islands,TuvaluandVanuatu) launched the "Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific", calling for the phase outfossil fuelsand the "rapid andjust transition"torenewable energyand strengtheningenvironmental law,including introducing the crime ofecocide.

Military

Main article:Tonga Defence Services

The Tongan government supported the American "coalition of the willing"action inIraqand deployed more than 40 soldiers (as part of an American force) in late 2004. The contingent returned home on 17 December 2004.In 2007, a second contingent went to Iraq, and two more were sent during 2008 as part of continued support for the coalition. Tongan involvement concluded at the end of 2008 with no reported loss of life.

In 2010, Brigadier General Tauʻaika ʻUtaʻatu, commander of theTonga Defence Services,signed an agreement in London committing a minimum of 200 troops to co-operate with Britain's International Security Assistance Force inAfghanistan.The task was completed in April 2014, and the UK presented Operational Service Medals to each of the soldiers involved during a parade held in Tonga.

Tonga has contributed troops and police to theBougainvilleconflict in Papua-New Guinea and to the Australian-ledRAMSIforce in theSolomon Islands.

Administrative divisions

Further information:Administrative divisions of Tonga

Tonga is subdivided into five administrative divisions:ʻEua,Haʻapai,Niuas,Tongatapu,andVavaʻu.

Geography

Main article:Geography of Tonga

A map of Tonga

Located inOceania,Tonga is anarchipelagoin theSouth Pacific Ocean,directly south of Samoa and about two-thirds of the way from Hawai'i to New Zealand. Its 171 islands, 45 of them inhabited,are divided into three main groups – Vava'u, Ha'apai, and Tongatapu – and cover an 800-kilometre (500-mile)-long north–south line.

The largest island,Tongatapu,on which the capital city ofNukuʻalofais located, covers 257 square kilometres (99 sq mi). Geologically, the Tongan islands are of two types: most have a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations; others consist of limestone overlaying avolcanicbase.

Climate

Tonga has atropical rainforest climate(Af) with a distinct warm period (December–April), during which the temperatures rise above 32 °C (89.6 °F), and a cooler period (May–November), with temperatures rarely rising above 27 °C (80.6 °F). The temperature and rainfall range from 23 °C (73.4 °F) and 1,700 mm (66.9 in) on Tongatapu in the south to 27 °C (80.6 °F) and 2,970 mm (116.9 in) on the more northerly islands closer to the Equator.

The average wettest period is around March, with on average 263 mm (10.4 in).The average daily humidity is 80%. The highest temperature recorded in Tonga was 35 °C (95 °F) on 11 February 1979 in Vava'u. The coldest temperature recorded in Tonga was 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) on 8 September 1994 in Fua'amotu. Temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F) or lower are usually measured in the dry season and are more frequent in southern Tonga than in the northern islands.The tropical cyclone season currently runs from 1 November to 30 April, though tropical cyclones can form and affect Tonga outside of the season. According to theWorldRiskReport2021, Tonga ranks third among the countries with the highest disaster risk worldwide – mainly due to the country's exposure to multiple natural hazards.

Climate data forNukuʻalofa(KöppenAf)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29.4 (84.9)	29.9 (85.8)	29.6 (85.3)	28.5 (83.3)	26.8 (80.2)	25.8 (78.4)	24.9 (76.8)	24.8 (76.6)	25.3 (77.5)	26.4 (79.5)	27.6 (81.7)	28.7 (83.7)	27.3 (81.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.4 (79.5)	26.8 (80.2)	26.6 (79.9)	25.3 (77.5)	23.6 (74.5)	22.7 (72.9)	21.5 (70.7)	21.5 (70.7)	22.0 (71.6)	23.1 (73.6)	24.4 (75.9)	25.6 (78.1)	24.1 (75.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	23.4 (74.1)	23.7 (74.7)	23.6 (74.5)	22.1 (71.8)	20.3 (68.5)	19.5 (67.1)	18.1 (64.6)	18.2 (64.8)	18.6 (65.5)	19.7 (67.5)	21.1 (70.0)	22.5 (72.5)	20.9 (69.6)
Record low °C (°F)	16 (61)	17 (63)	15 (59)	15 (59)	13 (55)	11 (52)	10 (50)	11 (52)	11 (52)	12 (54)	13 (55)	16 (61)	10 (50)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	174 (6.9)	210 (8.3)	206 (8.1)	165 (6.5)	111 (4.4)	95 (3.7)	95 (3.7)	117 (4.6)	122 (4.8)	128 (5.0)	123 (4.8)	175 (6.9)	1,721 (67.8)
Average rainy days	17	19	19	17	15	14	15	13	13	11	12	15	180
Averagerelative humidity(%)	77	78	79	76	78	77	75	75	74	74	73	75	76
Source: Weatherbase

Ecology

Tonga contains theTongan tropical moist foreststerrestrial ecoregion.

In Tonga, dating back to Tongan legend, flying bats are considered sacred and are the property of the monarchy. Thus, they are protected and cannot be harmed or hunted. As a result,flying fox batshave thrived in many of the islands of Tonga.

Wattled honeyeater in Tonga

Thebird life of Tongaincludes a total of 73 species, of which two are endemic, theTongan whistlerand theTongan megapode.Five species have been introduced by humans, and eight are rare or accidental. Seven species are globally threatened.

Economy

Main article:Economy of Tonga

A Tongan one-cent (seniti taha) coin

Nuku Island,Vavaʻu

Humpback whalesoff Tonga

Tonga's economy is characterised by a large nonmonetary sector and a heavy dependence onremittancesfrom the half of the country's population who live abroad (chiefly in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States). The royal family and the nobles dominate and largely own the monetary sector of the economy – particularly the telecommunications and satellite services. Tonga was named the sixth-most corrupt country in the world byForbesmagazine in 2008.

Tonga was ranked the 165th-safest investment destination in the world in the March 2011EuromoneyCountry Risk rankings.

The manufacturing sector consists ofhandicraftsand a few other very small-scale industries, which contribute only about 5% of GDP.Commercial business activities also are inconspicuous, and to a large extent, are dominated by the same large trading companies found throughout the South Pacific. In September 1974, the country's first commercial trading bank, the Bank of Tonga, opened.

Tonga's development plans emphasise a growingprivate sector,upgrading agricultural productivity, revitalising the squash and vanilla-bean industries, developing tourism, and improving communications and transport. Substantial progress has been made, but much work remains to be done. A small, growing construction sector is developing in response to the inflow of aid money and remittances from Tongans abroad. In recognition of such a crucial contribution, the government has created a new department in the Prime Minister's Office with the purpose of catering for the needs of Tongans living abroad. In 2007, the Tongan Parliament amended citizenship laws to allow Tongans to hold dual citizenship.

The tourist industry is relatively undeveloped. The government recognises that tourism can play a major role in economic development, and efforts are being made to increase this source of revenue. Cruise ships often stop in Vavaʻu, with a reputation for itswhale watching,game fishing, surfing, beaches, and is increasingly becoming a major player in the South Pacific tourism market.

Tonga's postage stamps,featuring colourful and often unusual designs (including heart-shaped and banana-shaped stamps), are popular withphilatelists.

In 2005, the country became eligible to become a member of theWorld Trade Organization.After an initial voluntary delay, Tonga became a full member of the WTO on 27 July 2007.

The Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, incorporated in 1996, endeavours to represent the interests of its members, private sector businesses, and to promote economic growth in the Kingdom.

Tonga is home to some 106,000 people. More than double that number live overseas, mainly in the US, New Zealand, and Australia. Remittances from the overseas population have been declining since the onset of the 2008 global economic crisis. The tourism industry is improving, but remains modest at under 90,000 tourists per year.

Agriculture

In Tonga, agriculture and forestry (together with fisheries) provide the majority of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and food.Rural Tongans rely on bothplantationandsubsistence agriculture.Plants grown for both marketcash cropsand home use include bananas,coconuts,coffee beans,vanilla beans,androot cropssuch ascassava,sweet potato,andtaro.As of 2001,two-thirds of agricultural land was in root crops.

The processing of coconuts intocopraanddesiccated(dried) coconut was once the only significant industry, and only commercial export. Deteriorating prices on the world market and lack of replanting brought this once vibrant industry, as in most island nations of the South Pacific, to a complete standstill.

Swine and poultry are the major types of livestock. Horses are kept for draft purposes, primarily by farmers working theirʻapi ʻuta(a plot of bushland). More cattle are being raised, and beef imports are declining.

The traditional feudal land ownership system meant that farmers had no incentive to invest in planting long-term tree crops on land they did not own. In the late 20th century, kava and vanilla from larger plantations became the main agricultural exports, together with squash.The export of squash to Japan, beginning in 1987, once brought relief to Tonga's struggling economy, but local farmers became increasingly wary of the Japanese market due to price fluctuations, and the huge financial risks involved.

Energy

Energy in Tonga mostly comes from imported diesel.Energy consumption in Tonga is projected to reach around 66 gigawatt hours by 2020.The country aimed to reach 50% of renewable energy by 2020.In 2019, Tonga announced the construction of a 6-megawatt solar farm on Tongatapu.The plant will be the second-largest solar plant in the Pacific upon completion.

In view of the decreasing reliability offossil-fuel electricitygeneration, its increasing costs, and negative environmental side effects,renewable energysolutions have attracted the government's attention. Together withIRENA,Tonga has planned a renewable energy based strategy to power the main and outer islands. The strategy focuses on solar home systems that turn individual households into small power plants. It calls for the involvement of local operators, finance institutions, and technicians to provide sustainable business models and strategies to ensure the effective operation, management, and maintenance once the systems are installed.

The Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was established in Tonga in 2016 to advise the private sector on related policy matters, provide capacity development and promote business investment.The centre facilitates a financial mechanism offering competitive grants for start-ups to spur the adoption of renewable energy by the business sector. The centre is part of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres and SIDS DOCK framework designed to attract international investment in the renewable energy sector.

With the assistance of IRENA, Tonga has developed the 2010–2020 Tonga Energy Road Map, which aims for a 50% reduction of diesel importation. This was to be accomplished through a range of appropriate renewable technologies, including wind and solar, as well as innovative efficiencies.As of 2018, Tonga was generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Demographics

Main article:Demographics of Tonga

Tonga's population (1961–2003) in thousands

Over 70% of the 106,017inhabitants live on its main island, Tongatapu. Although an increasing number of Tongans have moved into the only urban and commercial centre, Nukuʻalofa, where European and indigenous cultural and living patterns have blended, village life and kinship ties remain influential throughout the country. Despite emigration, Tonga grew in population from about 32,000 in the 1930s to more than 90,000 by 1976.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Tonga
Ethnic groups			percent
Tongan			97.03%
Part Tongan			0.79%
Chinese			0.73%
Fijian			0.3%
European			0.25%
Indo-Fijian			0.12%
Other Pacific Islander			0.2%
Other Asian			0.19%
Other			0.37%
Not stated			0.03%

According to the government portal, Tongans,Polynesianby ethnicity with a mixture ofMelanesian,represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. About 1.5% are mixed Tongans and the rest areEuropean(the majority are British), mixed European, and otherPacific Islanders.In 2001, about 3,000 to 4,000Chinese lived there,comprising 3 to 4% of the total Tongan population.The2006 Nukuʻalofa riotsmainly targeted Chinese-owned businesses, leading to the emigration of several hundred Chineseso that only about 300 remain.

Languages

Tonganis the official language,along with English. APolynesian language,it is closely related toWallisian(Uvean),Niuean,andHawai'ian.

Religion

Main article:Religion in Tonga

TheFree Wesleyan Church

Tonga does not have an official state religion.The Constitution of Tonga (Revised 1998) provides for freedom of religion.

In 1928, QueenSalote Tupou III,who was a member of theFree Wesleyan Church of Tonga,established the Free Wesleyan Church as the state religion of Tonga. The chief pastor of the Free Wesleyan Church serves as the representative of the people of Tonga and of the church at the coronation of a king or queen of Tonga, where he anoints and crowns the monarch. In opposition to the establishment of the Free Wesleyan Church as a state religion, theChurch of Tongaseparated from the Free Wesleyan Church in 1928.

Islam in Tongais a small minority religion in the country. Muslims in Tonga belong toSunnidenomination.Al-Khadeejah Mosqueis a prominent mosque in Tonga.

Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and by the Christian faith; for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease on Sunday, from the beginning of the day at midnight, to the end of the day at midnight. The constitution declares the Sabbath sacred forever. The official figures from the latest government census as of 2011show that 90% of the population are affiliated with a Christian church or sect, with the four major church affiliations in the kingdom:

• Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga(36,592 or 36%)
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(18,554 or 18%)
• Roman Catholics(15,441 or 15%)
• Free Church of Tonga(11,863 or 12%)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent missionaries in 1891 to visit King Siaosi (George) Tupo, where they obtained permission to preach.

Health

Main article:Health in Tonga

By some published surveys, Tonga has one of the highest obesity rates in the world.World Health Organizationdata published in 2014 indicate that Tonga stands fourth overall in terms ofcountries listed by mean body mass index data.In 2011, 90% of the adult population were considered overweight using NIH interpretation of body mass index (BMI) data, with more than 60% of thoseobese.70% of Tongan females aged 15–85 are obese. Tonga andNauruhave the world's highest overweight and obese populations.

In late October 2021, Tonga reported its first case ofCOVID-19based on a New Zealand air passenger's positive test.

Education

Main article:Education in Tonga

Primary education between ages 6 and 14 is compulsory and free in state schools. Mission schools provide about 8% of the primary and 90% of the secondary level of education. State schools make up for the rest. Higher education includes teacher training, nursing, and medical training, a small private university, a woman's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools. Most levels of higher education are pursued overseas.

Tongans enjoy a relatively high level of education, with a 98.9% literacy rate,and higher education up to and including medical and graduate degrees (pursued mostly overseas). They hold the body of academic knowledge created by their scholars in high esteem and the Kukū Kaunaka Collection, which comprises every doctoral and master's dissertation written by any Tongan in any country is archived bySeu'ula Johansson-Fuaat the Institute for Education in Tonga.

Emigration

Contemporary Tongans often have strong ties to overseas lands. Many Tongans have emigrated toAustralia,New Zealand,or theUnited Statesto seek employment and a higher standard of living.

In 2018, 82,389 Tongans lived in New Zealand.As of 2000, 36,840 Tongans were living in the US.More than 8,000 Tongans live in Australia.The Tongandiasporaretains close ties to relatives at home,and a significant portion of Tonga's income derives from remittancesto family members (often aged) who prefer to remain in Tonga.

Culture

Main article:Culture of Tonga

Kava culture

Humans have lived in Tonga for nearly 3,000 years since settlement in lateLapitatimes. Before the arrival of European explorers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Tongans had frequent contacts with their nearest Oceanic neighbours, Fiji and Niue. In the 19th century, with the arrival of Western traders and missionaries, Tongan culture changed, especially in religion. As of 2013,almost 98% of residents profess Christianity. The people discarded some old beliefs and habits and adopted others.

Fahu

Fahu is a form of social organization practiced by the people of Tonga, built upon a relationship between a person and their father’s sister and paternal cousins. There are a few key superiorities in the social structure of fahu:

1. One's paternal side is superior to their maternal side of a family unit, and
2. Sisters are situated as superordinate and sacred counterparts to their brothers, thus
3. The sister of one's father is the highest ranking family member

Prior to Western contact, the inner dynamics between the chiefly kinship groups were governed by this social convention. Although fahu rights do not hold the same political strength and implications they historically did, they remain, to a notable degree, a part of the contemporary social practices in Tonga.

Socio-environmental impact of fahu

Similar social structures to fahu have been cited as significantly beneficial for human adaptation to environmental threats, especially those situated in hurricane-prone regions such as Tonga.The benefit stems from the fahu's ability to provide a network and capacity to allow for relocation or people and resources during environmental events, such as hurricanes or droughts.

However, there have been environmental consequences of note due to the fahu structure, or rather, a disturbance of the structure. In the 1980s, Tonga saw a severe depletion of its sandalwood tree due a disruption of the fahu social hierarchy, which was incited by market demand for the resource.This led to heightened local competition and eventually an overharvest of the tree. Nearly all of the sandalwood resources were depleted over the span of two years.

The start of a Tongantauʻolungadance

Sport

Further information:Sport in Tonga

Rugby union

Rugby unionis the national sport,and thenational team(ʻIkale Tahi, or Sea Eagles) has performed quite well on the international stage. Tonga has competed in sixRugby World Cupssince1987.The2007and2011 Rugby World Cupswere Tonga's most successful to date, both winning two out of four matches and in a running chance for the quarterfinals. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga won its first two matches, against theUSA25–15, andSamoa19–15. They came very close to upsetting the eventual winners of the 2007 tournament, the South AfricanSpringboks,losing 30–25. A defeat byEngland,36–20 in their last pool game ended their hopes of making the knockout stages. Nevertheless, by picking up third place in their pool games behind South Africa and England, Tonga earned automatic qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. InPool Aof the2011 Rugby World Cup,Tonga beat bothJapan31–18 and 5th rankedeventual finalistFrance19–14 in the latter pool stages. However, a previous heavy defeat by theAll Blacksat the tournament's opener (41–10) and a subsequent tight defeat byCanada(25–20) meant that Tonga lost out to France (who also lost toNZ) for the quarter finals due to 2 bonus points and a points difference of 46.

Tonga's best result before 2007 came in1995,when they beatCôte d'Ivoire29–11, and1999when they beatItaly28–25 (although with only 14 men they lost heavily to England, 101–10). Tonga perform theIkale Tahi war danceor Sipi Tau (a form ofKailao) before all their matches. Tonga used to compete in thePacific Tri-Nationsagainst Samoa and Fiji, which has now been replaced by theWorld Rugby Pacific Nations Cup,which now involvesJapan,Canada,and theUnited States.At club level, there are theDatec Cup Provincial Championshipand thePacific Rugby Cup.Rugby union is governed by theTonga Rugby Football Union,which was a member of thePacific Islands Rugby Allianceand contributed to thePacific Islanders rugby union team,before they were disbanded in 2009.

Many players of Tongan descent – e.g.,Jonah Lomu,Israel Folau,Viliami "William" ʻOfahengaue,Malakai Fekitoa,Ben Afeaki,Charles Piutau,Frank Halai,Sekope Kepu,George Smith,Wycliff Palu,Sitaleki Timani,Salesi Ma'afu,AnthonyandSaia Fainga'a,Mark Gerrard,Cooper Vuna,Doug Howlett,Toutai KefuandTatafu Polota-Nau– have played for either the All Blacks or the Wallabies.British and Irish Lionand Welsh international playerTaulupe "Toby" Faletauis Tongan born and the son of Tongan internationalKuli Faletau.Taulupe's cousins and England international playersBillyandMako Vunipola(who is also aBritish and Irish Lion), are sons of former Tonga rugby captainFe'ao Vunipola.Rugby is popular among the nation's schools, and students from schools such as Tonga College andTupou Collegeare regularly offered scholarships in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Rugby league

The Tongan rugby league team

Rugby leaguehas gained some success. Tonga made their first appearance at aRugby League World Cupin the1995edition where they went out in the first stage but narrowly lost toNew Zealand.They have since appeared in each subsequent Rugby League World Cup tournament. In the2008 Rugby League World CupTongarecorded wins againstIrelandandScotland.Just before the2017 World Cup,various high-profile players, led byJason TaumaloloandAndrew Fifita,defected from their tier one nations to represent their nation of heritage. This led to them defeating New Zealand in Hamilton atWaikato Stadiumon 11 November at that tournament. The national team has since also recorded victories againstGreat Britainand the world number oneAustralia.In addition to the success of the national team, many players of Tongan descent make it big in the AustralianNational Rugby Leaguecompetition. These includeJason Taumalolo,Israel Folau,Tyson Frizell,Tevita Pangai Junior,Konrad Hurrell,David Fusitua,Tuimoala Lolohea,Sio Siua Taukeiaho,Jorge Taufua,William Hopoate,Andrew Fifita,Ben Murdoch-Masila,Felise Kaufusi,Willie Mason,Manu Vatuvei,Brent Kite,Fuifui Moimoi,Willie Tonga,Anthony Tupou,Antonio Kaufusi,Michael Jennings,Tony Williams,Feleti Mateo.Subsequently, some Tongan rugby league players have established successful careers in theSuper Leaguesuch as Antonio Kaufusi.

Olympics

Main article:Tonga at the Olympics

Aside from rugby, Tonga has also produced athletes who have competed at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Tonga's only Olympic medal came from the1996 Summer Olympicsin Atlanta, wherePaea Wolfgrammwon silver insuper heavyweightboxing. One athlete,Pita Taufatofua,attended the2018 Winter Olympicsin Pyeongchang, South Korea.

American football

Several Tongans have been football players in theNational Football League,includingTuineau Alipate,Sione Takitaki,Spencer Folau,Lakei Heimuli,Steve Kaufusi,Ma'ake Kemoeatu,Deuce Lutui,Siupeli Malamala,Tim Manoa,Stan Mataele,Vili Maumau,Alfred Pupunu,Vai Sikahema,Star Lotulelei,Vita Vea,Talanoa Hufanga,Peter Tuipulotu,Marlon Tuipulotu,andTuli Tuipulotu.

Media

• Matangi Tonga– online newspaper
• Taimi o Tonga(Times of Tonga) – controversial newspaper
• Keleʻa– newspaper
• Talaki– newspaper
• Kalonikali– newspaper
• Tauʻataina– newspaper
• Kakalu– newspaper
• Tonga Broadcasting Commission(Television Tonga,Television Tonga 2,Radio Tonga1,Radio Tonga2 – Kool 90FM,103FM)

Contemporary Tongan art

There has been a huge surge of contemporary Tongan artists in the past decade,the majority based in New Zealand.Tanya Edwardsworks with ngatu (bark cloths),Benjamin Work,Telly Tuita,andSione Monūare widely exhibited internationally,Sēmisi Fetokai Potauainebuilt a five-storey Tongan sculpture in centralChristchurch.In 2023,Bergman GalleryhostedTukufakaholo, Tongan ContemporaryinAuckland,New Zealand,featuring eight Tongan artists.

See also

• Outline of Tonga
• List of islands and towns in Tonga

Further reading

Ethnography, culture, and history

• On the Edge of the Global: Modern Anxieties in a Pacific Island Nation(2011) by Niko Besnier. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press,ISBN978-0-8047-7406-2
• Islanders of the South: Production, Kinship and Ideology in the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga(1993) by Paul van der Grijp. Leiden: KITLV Press.ISBN90 6718 058 0
• Identity and Development: Tongan Culture, Agriculture, and the Perenniality of the Gift(2004) by Paul van der Grijp. Leiden: KITLV Press.ISBN90 6718 215 X
• Manifestations of Mana: Political Power and Divine Inspiration in Polynesia(2014) by Paul van der Grijp. Vienna and Berlin: LIT Verlag.ISBN978-3-643-90496-6
• Becoming Tongan: An Ethnography of Childhoodby Helen Morton
• Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era, 1900–65byElizabeth Wood-Ellem
• Tradition Versus Democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoaby Stephanie Lawson
• Voyages: From Tongan Villages to American SuburbsCathy A. Small
• Friendly Islands: A History of Tonga(1977). Noel Rutherford. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-550519-0
• Tonga and the Tongans: Heritage and Identity(2007) Elizabeth Wood-Ellem. Alphington, Vic.: Tonga Research Association,ISBN978-0-646-47466-3
• Early Tonga: As the Explorers Saw it 1616–1810.(1987). Edwin N Ferdon. Tucson: University of Arizona Press;ISBN0-8165-1026-1
• The Art of Tonga(Ko e ngaahi'aati'o Tonga) by Keith St Cartmail. (1997) Honolulu: University of Hawai`i Press.ISBN0-8248-1972-1
• The Tonga Bookby Paul. W. Dale
• Tongaby James Siers

Wildlife and environment

• Birds of Fiji, Tonga and SamoabyDick Watling
• A Guide to the Birds of Fiji and Western Polynesia: Including American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Wallis and Futunaby Dick Watling
• Guide to the Birds of the Kingdom of Tongaby Dick Watling

Travel guides

• Lonely Planet Guide: Samoan Islands and Tongaby Susannah Farfor and Paul Smitz
• Moon Travel Guide: Samoa-Tongaby David Stanley

Bibliography

• Martin Daly (2009).Tonga: A New Bibliography.University of Hawaii Press.ISBN978-0-8248-3196-7.Archivedfrom the original on 19 August 2020.Retrieved18 October2015.

Fiction

• Brian K. Crawford (2009).Toki: A Historical Novel.Brian K. Crawford.ISBN978-0-557-03434-5.Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2020.Retrieved1 March2018.

External links

• Tonga.The World Factbook.Central Intelligence Agency.
• Tongafrom UCB Libraries GovPubs (archived 7 June 2008)
• Wikimedia Atlas of Tonga
• J. Edward Hoffmeister Filmsfrom the J. Edward Hoffmeister Papers. MSS 231. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego