Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

Data code TN

Government type hereditary constitutional monarchy

National 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) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the king
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet
elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king

Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA February 1999)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 7 proreform, 2 traditionalist

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

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, IHO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London
consulate(s) general : San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag description red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

NOTE: The information regarding Tonga on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tonga Government 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tonga Government 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.