Nombre del Pa�s:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

C�digo: TN

Tipo de Gobierno: hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Nuku'alofa

Divisiones Administrativas: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independencia: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)

Feriado Nacional: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constituci�n: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967

Sistema Legal: based on English law

Sufragio: 21 years of age; universal

Rama Ejecutiva:
chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch and the Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch

Rama Legislativa: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held NA March 1999 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote - pro-democratic 40%; seats - pro-democratic 5, traditionalist 4

Rama Judicial: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal

Partidos Pol�ticos y l�deres: Human Rights and Democracy Movement [Huliki WATAB, chairman, Viliami FUKOFUKA, president, 'Akilisi POHIVA, vice president]

Participaci�n de Organizaciones Internacionales: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Representantes Diplom�ticos en EU: Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London; address: Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga, c/o Tonga High Commission, 36 Molyneux Street, London W1H 6AB, telephone [44] (171) 724-5828, FAX [44] (171) 723-9074
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Representantes Dimplom�ticos de EU: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Descripci�n de la Bandera: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner