first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
Religions
Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Christian (includes Protestant and Roman Catholic) 3%, Muslim 2%
Languages
Tongan, English
Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority) note: English is the predominant second language
Exports
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, pharmaceuticals, furniture, windmills
External Debt
$118,600,000 $
$626,900,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.0277 (2006), 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003)
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
1.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
7
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Area
747 km sq
43,094 km sq
Coastline
419 km
7,314 km
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
