Part 752

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) is a constitutional monarch head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) were appointed for life by the king cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the king Privy Council: consists of the king and the Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral 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, 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine for elected people's representatives) 6 proreform, 3 traditionalist

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king

Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA

International organization participation: 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: Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Sione KITE, resides in London consulate(s) general: San Francisco

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy 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 -------

Economic overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which 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 1993-95 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $228 million (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $2,160 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 40% (1995 est.) industry: NA% services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993)

Labor force: 32,013 (1990 est.) by occupation: agriculture 70% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues: $44 million expenditures: $86 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

Industries: tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity: capacity: 6,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 231 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper