Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinctgeographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
People Togo
Population:5,548,702note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.3% (male 1,177,141/female 1,169,321)15-64 years: 55.1% (male 1,485,621/female 1,570,117)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 59,870/female 86,632) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 18.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.72% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:37.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 60.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 68.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 52.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.42 yearsmale: 55.41 yearsfemale: 59.49 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.96 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:10,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Togolese (singular and plural)adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, andKabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%
Languages:French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (thetwo major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelledKabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 60.9%male: 75.4%female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Togo
Country name:conventional long form: Togolese Republicconventional short form: Togolocal long form: Republique togolaiselocal short form: noneformer: French Togoland
Government type:republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:name: Lomegeographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 Etime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime,Plateaux, Savanes
Independence:27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of theRepublic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:French-based court system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005);note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeededby his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005validated the successionhead of government: Prime Minister Yawovi AGBOYIBO (since 16September 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and theprime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(no term limits); election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be heldNA); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent ofvote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, NicolasLAWSON 1%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next to be held 24 June 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPT 72, RSDD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union ofthe Forces for Change and the Action Committee for Renewal
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; DemocraticConvention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewalor PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peaceand Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP;Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [HarryOLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE];Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and SocialProgress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for a Change or UFC[Gilchrist OLYMPIO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: [vacant] chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David B. DUNN embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94 FAX: [228] 221 79 52
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternatingwith yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square inthe upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors ofEthiopia
Economy Togo
Economy - overview:This small, sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on bothcommercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employmentfor 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still beimported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of exportearnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo isthe world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate. The government'sdecade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, toimplement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment,and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly.Progress depends on follow-through on privatization, increasedopenness in government financial operations, progress towardlegislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.Togo is working with donors to write a PRGF that could eventuallylead to a debt reduction plan.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$9.248 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.109 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39.5% industry: 20.4% services: 40.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 1.302 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $260.2 millionexpenditures: $311 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice,millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Industries:phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts,textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:286.2 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.7% hydro: 1.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:929.2 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:663 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-261.9 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$868.4 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:Ghana 21.1%, Burkina Faso 18.2%, Benin 11.5%, Mali 7.3%, India5.8%, Nigeria 4% (2005)
Imports:$1.208 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:France 17.8%, China 13.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.5%, Italy 4.5%, Spain4.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$333.9 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2 billion (2005)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $80 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -525.817 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:58,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:443,600 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwaveradio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobilecellular systemdomestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventionalsysteminternational: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:73,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tg
Internet hosts:520 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2001)
Internet users:300,000 (2005)
Transportation Togo
Airports: 9 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 568 km narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999)
Waterways:50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWTby type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Kpeme, Lome
Military Togo
Military branches:Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,102,661females age 18-49: 1,124,463 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 696,933females age 18-49: 707,821 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$29.98 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Togo
Disputes - international:in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - jointcommission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 whofled there in 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Ghana)IDPs: 1,500 (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Togo is a source, transit, and destinationcountry for children, women, and men trafficked for forced labor andsexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, andtrafficking within the country is more prevalent than internationaltrafficking; children are trafficked to work as domestic servants,produce porters, roadside sellers, agricultural laborers, and forsexual exploitation; Togolese women may be trafficked to Europe forforced labor and sexual exploitationtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Togo is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for failure to show evidence of increased efforts to combattrafficking over the past year, particularly in the areas ofprosecution and protection
Illicit drugs:transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; moneylaundering not a significant problem
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Tokelau
Introduction Tokelau
Background:Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding islandgroups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
Geography Tokelau
Location:Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 10 sq kmland: 10 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:101 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing toemigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a numberof reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over threemeters above sea level
People Tokelau
Population: 1,392 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.01% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Tokelauan(s)adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:Polynesian
Religions:Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; onNukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, withthe Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:NA
Government Tokelau
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and NewZealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves towardfree association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum onself-governance, in February 2006, did not produce the two thirdsmajority vote necessary for changing the current political status
Government type:NA
Capital:none; each atoll has its own administrative centertime difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Legal system:New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by AdministratorDavid PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)head of government: Kolouei O'BRIEN (2006); note - position rotatesannually among the three Faipule (village leaders)cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku(village mayors), functions as a cabinetelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; thehead of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and servesa one-year term
Legislative branch:unicameral General Fono (21 seats; based upon proportionalrepresentation from the three islands elected by popular vote toserve three-year terms; Nukunonu has 6 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats,Atafu has 8 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 conferslimited legislative power on the General Fonoelections: last held January 2005 (next to be held January 2008)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminaljurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:the flag of New Zealand is used
Economy Tokelau
Economy - overview:Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack ofresources greatly restrain economic development and confineagriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aidfrom New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain publicservices, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. Theprincipal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postagestamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted tofamilies from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force:440 (2001)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Budget:revenues: $430,800expenditures: $2.8 million; including capital expenditures of NA(1987 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry,goats; fish
Industries:small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaitedcraft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:$0 f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners:New Zealand (2004)
Imports:$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports - partners:New Zealand (2004)
Debt - external:$0
Economic aid - recipient:about $4 million annually from New Zealand
Currency (code):New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system;domestic: radiotelephone service between islandsinternational: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satelliteearth stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAnote: 1 radio station provides service to all islands (2002)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tk
Internet hosts:298 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Tokelau
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Tokelau
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$66.72 million
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Tokelau
Disputes - international: Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Tonga
Introduction Tonga
Background:Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost itsindigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands"were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became aconstitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900;it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth ofNations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography Tonga
Location:Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirdsof the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 748 sq kmland: 718 sq kmwater: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:419 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),cool season (May to December)
Terrain:most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coralformation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:fish, fertile soil
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 14.67%other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity onFonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared foragriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfishand indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatensnative sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People Tonga
Population:114,689 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.3% (male 20,679/female 19,843)15-64 years: 60.5% (male 34,399/female 34,964)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,059/female 2,745) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.7 yearsmale: 20.1 yearsfemale: 21.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.01% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:25.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.82 yearsmale: 67.32 yearsfemale: 72.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Tongan(s)adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:Tongan, English
Literacy:definition: can read and write Tongan and/or Englishtotal population: 98.9%male: 98.8%female: 99% (1999 est.)
Government Tonga
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Tongaconventional short form: Tongalocal long form: Pule'anga Tongalocal short form: Tongaformer: Friendly Islands
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Nuku'alofageographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 Wtime difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:4 June 1970 (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 George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16May 2006)cabinet: Cabinet currently consists of 14 members, 10 appointed bythe monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members ofthe Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles andpeoples representatives serving three year termsnote: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,the cabinet, and two governorselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister anddeputy prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for noblesselected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote;members serve three-year terms)elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court ofAppeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosenand approved by Privy Council)
Political parties and leaders:People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. SimoteVEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji isaccredited to Tonga
Flag description:red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upperhoist-side corner
Economy Tonga
Economy - overview:Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrowexport base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, andvanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make uptwo-thirds of total exports. The country must import a highproportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remainsdependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communitiesoverseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largestsource of hard currency earnings following remittances. Thegovernment is emphasizing the development of the private sector,especially the encouragement of investment, and is committingincreased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonablysound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. Highunemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation,pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil serviceexpenditures are major issues facing the government.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$178.5 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$244 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 27% services: 50% (FY03/04 est.)
Labor force: 33,910 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:13% (FY03/04 est.)
Population below poverty line:24% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.1% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $56.97 millionexpenditures: $83.88 million; including capital expenditures of $1.9million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:41 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:38.13 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:900 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-4.321 million (FY04/05)
Exports:$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:Japan 41.8%, US 33.4%, NZ 6.3% (2005)
Imports:$122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:NZ 33.4%, Fiji 26.6%, Australia 10.5%, US 8.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$40.83 million (yearend)
Debt - external:$80.7 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$19.3 million Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million(FY01/02) (2004)
Currency (code):pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:TOP
Exchange rates:pa'anga per US dollar - 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003),2.1952 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:11,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16,400 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: competition between Tonga TelecommunicationsCorporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) isaccelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently grantedauthority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone,Internet, and televisiondomestic: fully automatic switched networkinternational: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (2004)
Televisions:2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.to
Internet hosts:18,775 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2004)
Transportation Tonga
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 680 kmpaved: 184 kmunpaved: 496 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,185 GRT/72,960 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, liquefied gas 1, livestockcarrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo1foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Nuku'alofa
Military Tonga
Military branches:Tonga Defense Services: Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force(includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 25,420females ag3 18-49: 24,827 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 19,840females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males ag3 18-49: 1,586females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Tonga
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction Trinidad and Tobago
Background:First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under Britishcontrol in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry washurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower wasreplaced with the importation of contract laborers from Indiabetween 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as thecocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 addedanother important export. Independence was attained in 1962. Thecountry is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thankslargely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
Geography Trinidad and Tobago
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 5,128 sq kmland: 5,128 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:362 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmargin
Climate:tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 14.62% permanent crops: 9.16% other: 76.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:40 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues:water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, andraw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world'slargest natural reservoir of asphalt
People Trinidad and Tobago
Population:1,065,842 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 109,936/female 104,076)15-64 years: 71.3% (male 398,657/female 361,093)65 years and over: 8.6% (male 41,162/female 50,918) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 31.2 yearsmale: 30.8 yearsfemale: 31.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.57 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.76 yearsmale: 65.71 yearsfemale: 67.86 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,900 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%,unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%,Pentecostal 6.8%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh DayAdventist 4%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoconventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Port-of-Spaingeographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 boroughcorporations, 1 wardregional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin,Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, SanJuan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarcocity corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernandoborough corporations: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortinward: Tobago
Independence:31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:1 August 1976
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts inthe Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March2003)head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24December 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliamentelections: president elected by an electoral college, which consistsof the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14February 2003 (next to be held in by January 2008); the presidentusually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority partyin the House of Representativeselection results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percentof electoral college vote - 43%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 membersappointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by theopposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the House ofRepresentatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (nextto be held by October 2007)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 membersserving four-year terms; last election held January 2005; seats byparty - PNM 11, DAC 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justiceand the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by thepresident after consultation with the prime minister and the leaderof the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president onthe advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Courtof Justice; Caribbean Court of Appeals member; Court of Appeals; thehighest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London
Political parties and leaders:Congress of the People [Winston Dookeran]; Democratic NationalAlliance or DNA (coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND) [Gerald YETMING];Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]; NationalAlliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES]; People'sNational Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congressor UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]; Democratic Action Congress or DAC [HochoyCHARLES], note - only active in Tobago
Political pressure groups and leaders:Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALEREchancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTINembassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spainmailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spaintelephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462
Flag description:red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoistside to the lower fly side
Economy Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas,has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site forinternational businesses. Tourism is a growing sector, although notproportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Theeconomy benefits from a growing trade surplus. Economic growth in2006 reached 12.6% as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefiednatural gas remained high, and foreign direct investment continuedto grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. Thegovernment is coping with a rise in violent crime.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.99 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$14.99 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:12.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$19,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 57.7% services: 41.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 618,000 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 9.5%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 14% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:7% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.591 billionexpenditures: $5.649 billion; including capital expenditures of$117.3 million (2006 est.)
Public debt:36.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Industries:petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:17% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:6.049 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.626 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)