World Factbook
Tonga
Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left corner meaning: the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ's blood and sacrifice, and white for purity
Capital
name
Nuku'alofa
etymology
name is said to be composed of the local words nuku , meaning "residence or abode," and alofa , meaning "love;" it may also mean "the south," describing Tonga's position in relation to most other Polynesian islands
time difference
UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
geographic coordinates
21 08 S, 175 12 W
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
amendment process
proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch
Country name
former
Friendly Islands
etymology
the name is of local origin and is said to mean "island;" the former name, the Friendly Islands, came from Captain James COOK in 1773, based on the welcome he received from the inhabitants
local long form
Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
local short form
Tonga
conventional long form
Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form
Tonga
Independence
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
Legal system
English common law
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
note
note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
subordinate courts
Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts
judge selection and term of office
judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
Executive branch
note
note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
chief of state
King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
election results
2025: Fatafehi FAKAFANUA elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (Independent) 16 votes, Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 10 votes 2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
head of government
Prime Minister Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)
most recent election date
15 December 2025
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch
National holiday
Official birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)
note: the monarch's actual birthday is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
National color(s)
red, white
Political parties
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA Tonga People's Party (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) or PAK or TPPI
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/20/2025
expected date of next election
November 2025
percentage of women in chamber
3.8%
National anthem(s)
title
"Ko e fasi 'o e tu'i 'o e 'Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
history
in use since 1874; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)
lyrics/music
Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
National symbol(s)
red cross on white field
Administrative divisions
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (917) 369-1024
chancery
250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone
[1] (917) 369-1025
chief of mission
Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
consulate(s) general
San Francisco
email address and website
tongaconsnot@gmail.com
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
although the US opened an embassy in Tonga on 9 May 2023, the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga while the Embassy is being staffed
chief of mission
Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Tonga as well as Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt