Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
106,146
316,182
Life Expectancy
75.380 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Nuku'alofa
Nassau
Largest city
Nuku`alofa (population: 22,400)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.774
NA
GDP per capita
$7,400 US
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
98.9%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
2.4
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
3.1%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
13.000%
14.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
NA
Political System
constitutional monarchy
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages
Tongan, English
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$104,600,000 $
$342,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
747 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
419 km
3,542 km
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
