Part 751

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 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: on Kao Island 1,033 m

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, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)

People ------

Population: 106,466 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.82% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 27.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 40.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.04 years male: 67.03 years female: 71.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.75 children born/woman (1996 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 a simple message in Tongan or English (1976 est.) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands

Data code: TN

Type of government: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Nuku'alofa