Tonga - Country Details

Basic Information

Capital

Nuku'alofa

Region

Oceania / Polynesia

Population

104,494

Area

748 km²

Currencies

Tongan paʻanga (T$)

Languages

English, Tongan

About country

Tonga is a Polynesian island country in Oceania, comprised of 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total land area is approximately 748 square kilometers, spread across a vast 700,000 square kilometer expanse in the southern Pacific Ocean. Historically, Tonga was settled around 2,500 years ago by the Lapita people, who developed a unique Tongan culture and language. The nation experienced a period of expansion known as the Tuʻi Tonga Empire, establishing a strong presence in the South Pacific. Today, Tonga's economy relies heavily on agriculture, fishing, and remittances from Tongans living abroad.