Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
Head of state: King George Tupou V
Population
194,320
106,146
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
75.380 years
Capital City
Nuku'alofa
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Nuku`alofa (population: 22,400)
Human Development Index
0.76
0.774
GDP per capita
$7,400 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
98.9%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
2.4
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
3.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
13.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Tongan, English
Exports
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
External Debt
$104,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Area
2,831 km sq
747 km sq
Coastline
403 km
419 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
