Location:
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area: Area - comparative: Land boundaries: Coastline: Maritime claims: Climate: Terrain: Elevation: Natural resources: Land use: Irrigated land: Population distribution: Natural hazards: volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements: Geography - note:
total: 747 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 717 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 30 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world:
190
four times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
419 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
0 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean
1046 highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island
arable land, fish
agricultural land: 43.1%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 22.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 15.3%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 5.6%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 12.5%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 44.4%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
0 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand