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A kingdom in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, Tonga consists of roughly 170 islands; however, only about 40 of these are inhabited. They are divided into three main groups: Vava’u in the north, Ha’apai in the center, and Tongatapu in the south. Tonga’s closest neighbors are Fiji, Samoa, and Niue. The capital of Tonga is Nuku’alofa, located on the island of Tongatapu, the largest and most heavily populated island of the group. Area 289 square miles (748 square kilometers). Population (2020 est.) 98,800.

Land and Climate

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The islands of Tonga are the peaks of underwater volcanoes, many of which are capped with coral limestone. A coral reef protects the island of Tongatapu from the sea and wind erosion that afflicts many of the other islands. The climate is semitropical. In the summer (December to April), humidity is high, and temperatures range from about 70° to 90° F (21° to 32° C). During the winter, the temperatures average between 60° and 70°  F (16° and 21° C). Mean annual rainfall varies from 63 inches (160 centimeters) in Tongatapu to 87 inches (221 centimeters) in Vava’u. The northern islands closest to the equator are subject to typhoons, particularly between December and April. The islands have lush vegetation that offer an array of habitats for Tonga’s wildlife, which range from brightly colored tropical birds and lizards to wild pigs and the giant fruit bats called flying foxes. More than 100 species of tropical fish populate the reefs surrounding the islands.

People and Culture

Almost all of the people of Tonga are ethnically Polynesian. Tonga is a deeply traditional and conservative country. Christianity is the dominant religion; more than two fifths of the people are Free Wesleyans, and there are large minorities of Roman Catholics and Mormons. Roughly two fifths of the people live in urban areas. The largest of these by far is Nuku’alofa, the capital. The other large urban centers are Neiafu, on Vava’u, and Haveluloto, which is situated on Tongatapu. Tongan and English are the official languages.

Tongans are famous for their craftsmanship of textiles, for weaving crafts, and for fashioning jewelry from shells, pearls, and other natural materials. Holidays and special occasions are celebrated with great feasts which feature music and folk dancing.

Primary education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14, and the government schools are free. There are secondary schools, vocational and technical schools, a teacher training college, and a campus of the University of the South Pacific. The government operates public hospitals on the most populous islands as well as smaller clinics on the smaller islands. Living standards are reasonably good in Tonga, with life expectancy averaging slightly more than 70 years.


The economy of Tonga centers around agriculture, which contributes roughly a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP). Yams, cassava, taro, coconuts, and fruits and vegetables are raised for local use; however, food products make up a substantial portion of Tonga’s imports. Commercial fishing is well developed, and fish, along with coconuts and vanilla beans, are among the top agricultural exports. All land belongs to the crown, but it is subdivided among the nobility. All male citizens over the age of 16 are allotted land for raising crops.

Manufacturing contributes less than 5 percent of the GDP, though the sector employs almost two fifths of the labor force. Manufactured goods include food products, beverages, paper materials, chemicals, and textiles. Services are an important component of the Tongan economy, most notably those related to tourism and financial services. Trade is vital to this island nation; the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Japan are important trading partners. Despite this activity, Tonga maintains a negative trade balance and is dependent upon foreign aid as well as on remittances from Tongans working overseas.

Other than coral and sand extracted for local usage, Tonga has no mineral resources. Petroleum was discovered around Tongatapu in the late 1970s, but as of the early 21st century it had yet to be exploited. Tonga has both state- and privately owned media. Opposition views are tolerated but not encouraged by the monarchy. There is no rail service; travel is mainly by road, sea, or air. Nuku’alofa and Neiafu on Vava’u are the country’s main commercial seaports; international air service is available on Tongatapu.


Bjorn Klingwall/Ostman Agency

Tonga is a constitutional hereditary monarchy. Executive authority is vested in the monarch, who serves as both chief of state and head of the government. Since 1965 the ruling monarch has been Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. He is assisted by a cabinet, whose 12 members he appoints. The cabinet also includes a prime minister and the governors of Ha’apai and Vava’u. Together the king and cabinet make up the Privy Council. The unicameral, or one-house, Legislative Assembly has 30 members; 12 seats are appointed and 9 are elected by a group of hereditary nobles. Representatives to the legislature serve three-year terms. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the king; the Court of Appeal is made up of the Privy Council and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.


Tonga has been inhabited by humans for at least 3,000 years. The country’s monarchy has existed since the 10th century. By the 13th century Tongan kings’ rule extended as far as the Hawaiian Islands.

The first European to visit Tonga was Dutch navigator Jakob Le Maire in 1616. European explorers continued to visit the island over the next century, though extended European settlements were not established until after the arrival in 1773 of British explorer Capt. James Cook. Christianity was introduced in the 19th century by Methodist missionaries, who abolished traditional religious practices and converted Chief Taufa’ahau.

Several dynastic changes led to civil war in the 19th century. The victorious chief, Taufa’ahau, was proclaimed king in 1845 and took the name George Tupou I. The current dynasty is descended from him. During his reign the king established a code of laws and, in 1875, a constitution.

George Tupou I died in 1893 and was succeeded by his great-grandson, George Tupou II. The new king, who ascended the throne at a time of economic struggle for Tonga, established a special treaty with Britain in 1900 that provided assistance for Tonga in negotiating foreign affairs. Five years later, an amendment to the treaty made Tonga a British protectorate.

After George Tupou II’s death in 1918, his daughter became queen. An especially popular and beloved ruler, Salote Tupou III enjoyed a long reign. Upon her death in 1965, her son Prince Tungi ascended the throne as Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. Tonga received full independence from Britain on June 4, 1970, and joined the Commonwealth the same year.

In the 1990s a strong pro-democracy movement began building in Tonga. Among its goals was the adoption of a more democratic constitution that would allow for direct elections to the legislature. In 1994 the movement established Tonga’s first political party; initially called the Tonga Democratic party, it was later renamed the People’s party.