Long-form name: Kingdom of Tonga

Type: constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth

Capital: Nukualofa

Administrative divisions: three island groups; Haapai, Tongatapu, Vavau

Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK; formerly Friendly Islands)

Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Legal system: based on English law

National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Branches: executive--king, Cabinet, and Privy Council; unicameral legislature--28-seat Legislative Assembly consists of the king, the Privy Council (composed of eight ministers and the governors of Vavau and Haapai), nine representatives of the nobles elected by their peers, nine elected representatives of the people elected by the people; the king appoints one noble as speaker; judiciary--Supreme Court, Magistrate's Court, Land Court

Leaders: Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV, King (since December 1965); Prince Fatafehi TU'IPELEHAKE), Prime Minister (since December 1965)

Suffrage: all literate, tax-paying males and all literate females over 21

Elections: supposed to be held every three years; last held in February 1987

Political parties and leaders: no political parties

Communists: none known

Member of: ADB, Commonwealth, FAO, ESCAP, GATT (de facto), IFAD, ITU, South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Siaosi Taimani 'AHO resides in London; US--the US has no offices in Tonga; the Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga and makes periodic visits

Flag: 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 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tonga Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tonga Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.