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tonga |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Tonga \Ton"ga\, n. [Hind. t[=a]ng[=a], Skr. tama[.n]gaka.] A kind of light two-wheeled vehicle, usually for four persons, drawn by ponies or bullocks. [India] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Tonga \Ton"ga\, n. (Med.) A drug useful in neuralgia, derived from a Fijian plant supposed to be of the aroid genus {Epipremnum}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Tonga n 1: a monarchy on a Polynesian archipelago [syn: {Tonga}, {Friendly Islands}] 2: the language of the Tonga people of south central Africa (Zambia and Rhodesia) [syn: {Tonga}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Tonga Tonga:Geography Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 748 sq km land area: 718 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 419 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base Natural resources: fish, fertile soil Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 55% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 12% other: 2% Irrigated land: NA sq km 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 natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban Note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited) Tonga:People Population: 105,600 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 0.78% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 24.37 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 6.75 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -9.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.16 years male: 65.8 years female: 70.62 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, Europeans about 300 Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents) Languages: Tongan, English Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write simple message in Tongan or English (1976) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 70%, mining (600 engaged in mining) Tonga:Government Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands Digraph: TN Type: hereditary constitutional monarchy Capital: Nuku'alofa Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu Vava'u Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate) National holiday: Emancipation Day 4 June (1970) Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967 Legal system: based on English law Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the king Privy Council: consists of the king and the cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral; consists of twelve cabinet ministers sitting ex-officio, nine nobles selected by the country's thirty-three nobles, and nine people's representatives elected by the populace Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea): elections last held 3-4 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote NA seats - (30 total, 9 elected) 6 proreform 3 traditionalist Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA Member of: ACP, AsDB C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, SPARTECA SPC, SPF, UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London consulate(s) general: San Francisco US diplomatic representation: the US has no offices in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga Flag: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner Economy Overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which employs about 70% of the labor force and contributes 40% to GDP. 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. The manufacturing sector accounts for only 11% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings, but the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy continued to grow in 1993-94 largely because of a rise in squash exports, increased aid flows, and several large construction projects. The government is now turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $214 million (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $2,050 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $36.4 million expenditures: $68.1 million, including capital expenditures of $33.2 million (1991 est.) Exports: $11.3 million (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: squash, vanilla, fish, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 34%, US 17%, Australia 13%, NZ 13% (FY90/91) Imports: $56 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food products, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 33%, Australia 22%, US 8%, Japan 8% (FY90/91) External debt: $47.5 million (FY90/91) Industrial production: growth rate 1.5% (FY91/92); accounts for 11% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993) Industries: tourism, fishing Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP; dominated by coconut, copra, and banana production; vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $16 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $258 million Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1 - 1.2653 (January 1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993), 1.3471 (1992), 1.2961 (1991), 1.2800 (1990) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Tonga:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 366 km paved: 272 km (198 km on Tongatapu 74 km on Vava'u) unpaved: 94 km (usable only in dry weather) Ports: Neiafu Nuku'alofa, Pangai Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,440 GRT/8,984 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 Airports: total: 6 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 Tonga:Communications Telephone system: 3,529 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 66,000 Television: broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA Tonga:Defense Forces Branches: Tonga Defense Services, Maritime Division, Royal Tongan Marines, Tongan Royal Guards, Police Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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