Topic: Photos of Afghanistan

Topic: Introduction
Background: Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN. A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and was reelected in August 2009. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed the “US-Taliban Agreement,” which contained commitments by the United States related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan of military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, as well as commitments by the Taliban related to counterterrorism, among other topics. Following a US drawdown of virtually all its troops, a summer 2021 Taliban offensive quickly overran the country and the Taliban took over Kabul in August of 2021. Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN.A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan and was reelected in August 2009. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed the “US-Taliban Agreement,” which contained commitments by the United States related to the withdrawal from Afghanistan of military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, as well as commitments by the Taliban related to counterterrorism, among other topics. Following a US drawdown of virtually all its troops, a summer 2021 Taliban offensive quickly overran the country and the Taliban took over Kabul in August of 2021. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 652,230 sq km

land: 652,230 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,987 km

border countries (6): China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation: highest point: Noshak 7,492 m

lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m

mean elevation: 1,884 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.8% (2018)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018)

permanent pasture: 46% (2018)

forest: 1.85% (2018 est.)

other: 40.1% (2018)
Irrigated land: 32,080 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)
Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Geography - note: landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
Map description: Afghanistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.Afghanistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 38,346,720 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Afghan(s)

adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups: Current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pachaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups
Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pachaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)

major-language sample(s):
 کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note 1: percentages sum to more than 100% because many people are multilingual

note 2: Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pachaie, Nuristani, Balochi, and Pamiri are the third official languages in areas where the majority speaks themکتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari)
Religions: Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.62% (male 7,562,703/female 7,321,646)

15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,960,044/female 3,828,670)

25-54 years: 31.44% (male 5,858,675/female 5,661,887)

55-64 years: 4.01% (male 724,597/female 744,910)

65 years and over: 2.68% (2020 est.) (male 451,852/female 528,831)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 88.8

youth dependency ratio: 75.3

elderly dependency ratio: 4.8

potential support ratio: 21 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 19.5 years

male: 19.4 years

female: 19.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.3% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 35.46 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 12.33 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Urbanization: urban population: 26.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.458 million KABUL (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2015 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 638 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 113.33 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 96.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.65 years

male: 52.1 years

female: 55.28 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 18.9% (2018)

note:  percent of women aged 12-49
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 68.3% of population

total: 76.5% of population 70.2%

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 31.7% of population

total: 23.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 13.2% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 88.2% of population

rural: 52% of population

total: 61.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 11.8% of population

rural: 48% of population

total: 38.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1,000
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever, malaria

note: Afghanistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Pakistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.5% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.1% (2018)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 4.2% (2017)

women married by age 18: 28.3% (2017 est.)
Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 37.3%

male: 52.1%

female: 22.6% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years

male: 13 years

female: 8 years (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.2%

male: 14.5%

female: 21.1% (2020)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in overcrowded urban areas
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 53.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 8.67 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 90.98 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Land use: agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.8% (2018)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018)

permanent pasture: 46% (2018)

forest: 1.85% (2018 est.)

other: 40.1% (2018)
Urbanization: urban population: 26.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: Crimea-Congo hemorrhagic fever, malaria

note: Afghanistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Pakistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to civil conflict, population displacement, and economic slowdown - a record of 19 million people were estimated to face acute food insecurity between September and October 2021, due to the devastating combined effects of drought, conflict, and collapse of the local economy; following the developments of August 2021 in the country, the international aid flows, an important element of public spending, were halted; the food security situation and agricultural livelihoods in the country is likely to significantly deteriorate in the coming months due to cumulative and cascading impact of multiple shocks, including weather, conflict, economic crisis and the lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,628,525 tons (2016 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 65.33 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: formerly Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

conventional short form: Afghanistan

local long form: formerly Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan

local short form: Afghanistan

former: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

etymology: the name "Afghan" originally referred to the Pashtun people (today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups), while the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country"; so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans"
Government type: the United States does not recognize the Taliban governmentthe United States does not recognize the Taliban government
Capital: name: Kabul

geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E

time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time

etymology: named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin
Administrative divisions: 34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution: history: last ratified in 2004

amendments: formerly proposed by a commission formed by presidential decree followed by the convention of a Grand Council (Loya Jirga) decreed by the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Loya Jirga membership and endorsement by the president
Legal system: before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. (2021)before the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic (sharia) law; after August 2021, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has claimed to be implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, partially based on the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR

head of government: president (vacant); note - President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the acting Prime Minister of an interim Taliban government; the US does not recognize the Taliban government; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting Deputy Prime Ministers: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR

cabinet: before 15 August 2021, the cabinet formerly consisted of 25 ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly; the Taliban have announced a so-called “cabinet” which includes 33 ministries

elections/appointments: the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 September 2019

election results: no elections have been held since 2019; in that election, Ashraf GHANI was declared winner by the Independent Election Commission on 18 February 2020; the IEC declared Ashraf GHANI the winner with 50.6% of the vote, Abdullah ABDULLAH, Dr. 39.5%, other 0.9%president (vacant); note – before 15 August, 2021, the president was both chief of state and head of government; President Ashraf GHANI departed the country on 15 August 2021; on 7 September 2021, the Taliban announced Mullah Mohammad HASSAN Akhund as the so-called “acting Prime Minister” of a so-called “interim government”; as of November 2021, the group had announced three acting so-called “Deputy Prime Ministers”: Mullah Abdul Ghani BERADER, Mullah Abdul Salam HANAFI, and Maulawi Abdul KABIR
Legislative branch: description: before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan had a bicameral National Assembly that consisted of a House of Elders and a House of People; since August 15, the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has not purported to announce the formation of a legislative branch

elections: before 15 August, 2021:  House of Elders - district councils - held within 5 days of installation; provincial councils - within 15 days of installation; and presidential appointees - within 2 weeks after the presidential inauguration; note - in early 2016, former President Ashraf Ghani extended their mandate until parliamentary and district elections could be held; former House of People - last held on 20 October 2018

election results: before 15 August 2021, House of Elders - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 85, women 17, percent of women 16.7%
before 15 August 2021, House of People - percent of vote by party NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 179, women 69, percent of women 27.7%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 24.4%
Judicial branch: highest courts: the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” has a “Supreme Court” (consisting of a supreme court chief and an unknown number of justices); before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan had a Supreme Court (consisting of a supreme court chief and 8 justices organized into criminal, public security, civil, and commercial divisions)

judge selection and term of office: the court chief and justices were appointed by the president with the approval of the Wolesi Jirga; court chief and justices served single 10-year terms

subordinate courts: before 15 August 2021, consisted of Appeals Courts; Primary Courts; and Special Courts for issues including narcotics, security, property, family, and juveniles
Political parties and leaders: the Taliban’s so-called “interim government” includes mostly Taliban members and not other political parties; before 15 August, 2021, the Ministry of Justice had licensed 72 political parties as of April 2019
International organization participation: before 15 August, 2021, Afghanistan was a member or participant in the following organizations: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022

chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410

FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488

email address and website:
info@afghanembassy.us

https://www.afghanembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires: Ian MCCARY (since August 2021); note – since 15 August 2021, the United States has not yet made a decision whether to recognize the Taliban or any other entity as the Government of Afghanistan

embassy: Embassy Kabul, operations have been suspended; Department of State’s Afghanistan Affairs Unit operates from Doha, Qatar.
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other 2 bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam

note 1: the United States has not recognized the Taliban or any other entity as the government of Afghanistan and, accordingly, continues to display the flag of Afghanistan as set forth in the country's constitution

note 2: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century - 19 by one count - than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them

National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, green, black
National anthem: name: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)

lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA

note: adopted 2006; the 2004 constitution of the post-Taliban government mandated that a new national anthem should be written containing the phrase "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and mentioning the names of Afghanistan's ethnic groups
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam, Buddhas of Bamyan

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Prior to 2001, Afghanistan was an extremely poor, landlocked, and foreign aid-dependent country. Increased domestic economic activity occurred following the US-led invasion, as well as significant international economic development assistance. This increased activity expanded access to water, electricity, sanitation, education, and health services, and fostered consistent growth in government revenues since 2014. While international security forces have been drawing down since 2012, with much higher U.S. forces’ drawdowns occurring since 2017, economic progress continues, albeit uneven across sectors and key economic indicators. After recovering from the 2018 drought and growing 3.9% in 2019, political instability, expiring international financial commitments, and the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought significant adversity on the Afghan economy, with a projected 5% contraction. Current political parties’ power-sharing agreement following the September 2019 presidential elections as well as ongoing Taliban attacks and peace talks have led to Afghan economic instability. This instability, coupled with expiring international grant and assistance, endangers recent fiscal gains and has led to more internally displaced persons. In November 2020, Afghanistan secured $12 billion in additional international aid for 2021-2025, much of which is conditional upon Taliban peace progress. Additionally, Afghanistan continues to experience influxes of repatriating Afghanis, mostly from Iran, significantly straining economic and security institutions. Afghanistan’s trade deficit remains at approximately 31% of GDP and is highly dependent on financing through grants and aid. While Afghan agricultural growth remains consistent, recent industrial and services growth have been enormously impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and trade cessations. While trade with the People’s Republic of China has rapidly expanded in recent years, Afghanistan still relies heavily upon India and Pakistan as export partners but is more diverse in its import partners. Furthermore, Afghanistan still struggles to effectively enforce business contracts, facilitate easy tax collection, and enable greater international trade for domestic enterprises.

Current Afghan priorities focus on the following goals:  Securing international economic agreements, many of which are contingent on Taliban peace progress; Increasing exports to $2 billion USD by 2023; Continuing to expand government revenue collection; Countering corruption and navigating challenges from the power-sharing agreement; and Developing a strong private sector that can empower the economy. Prior to 2001, Afghanistan was an extremely poor, landlocked, and foreign aid-dependent country. Increased domestic economic activity occurred following the US-led invasion, as well as significant international economic development assistance. This increased activity expanded access to water, electricity, sanitation, education, and health services, and fostered consistent growth in government revenues since 2014. While international security forces have been drawing down since 2012, with much higher U.S. forces’ drawdowns occurring since 2017, economic progress continues, albeit uneven across sectors and key economic indicators. After recovering from the 2018 drought and growing 3.9% in 2019, political instability, expiring international financial commitments, and the COVID-19 pandemic have wrought significant adversity on the Afghan economy, with a projected 5% contraction.Current political parties’ power-sharing agreement following the September 2019 presidential elections as well as ongoing Taliban attacks and peace talks have led to Afghan economic instability. This instability, coupled with expiring international grant and assistance, endangers recent fiscal gains and has led to more internally displaced persons. In November 2020, Afghanistan secured $12 billion in additional international aid for 2021-2025, much of which is conditional upon Taliban peace progress. Additionally, Afghanistan continues to experience influxes of repatriating Afghanis, mostly from Iran, significantly straining economic and security institutions.Afghanistan’s trade deficit remains at approximately 31% of GDP and is highly dependent on financing through grants and aid. While Afghan agricultural growth remains consistent, recent industrial and services growth have been enormously impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and trade cessations. While trade with the People’s Republic of China has rapidly expanded in recent years, Afghanistan still relies heavily upon India and Pakistan as export partners but is more diverse in its import partners. Furthermore, Afghanistan still struggles to effectively enforce business contracts, facilitate easy tax collection, and enable greater international trade for domestic enterprises.

Current Afghan priorities focus on the following goals:
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $77.04 billion (2020 est.)

$78.56 billion (2019 est.)

$75.6 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.7% (2017 est.)

2.2% (2016 est.)

1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $2,000 (2020 est.)

$2,100 (2019 est.)

$2,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $20.24 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2017 est.)

4.4% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 23% (2016 est.)

industry: 21.1% (2016 est.)

services: 55.9% (2016 est.)

note: data exclude opium production
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 81.6% (2016 est.)

government consumption: 12% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories: 30% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services: 6.7% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services: -47.6% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, grapes, vegetables, potatoes, watermelons, melons, rice, onions, apples
Industries: small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate: -1.9% (2016 est.)
Labor force: 8.478 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44.3%

industry: 18.1%

services: 37.6% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 23.9% (2017 est.)

22.6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.2%

male: 14.5%

female: 21.1% (2020)
Population below poverty line: 54.5% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 29.4 (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8%

highest 10%: 24% (2008)
Budget: revenues: 2.276 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.328 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -15.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 7% of GDP (2017 est.)

7.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 21 December - 20 December
Current account balance: $1.014 billion (2017 est.)

$1.409 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.48 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.52 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

note: not including illicit exports or reexports
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 45%, Pakistan 24%, India 22%, China 1% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, grapes, opium, fruits and nuts, insect resins, cotton, handwoven carpets, soapstone, scrap metal (2019)
Imports: $6.98 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.37 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 23%, Pakistan 17%, India 13%, China 9%, United States 9%, Uzbekistan 7%, Kazakhstan 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: wheat flours, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, rolled tobacco, aircraft parts, synthetic fabrics (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.187 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.901 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $284 million (FY10/11)
Exchange rates: afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -

7.87 (2017 est.)

68.03 (2016 est.)

67.87 (2015)

61.14 (2014 est.)

57.25 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 100% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 98% (2018)
Electricity - production: 1.211 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 5.526 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 4.4 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 634,100 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 45% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 52% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 35,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 34,210 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 164.2 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 164.2 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 49.55 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 145,787 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22,678,024 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 58 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: before 15 August 2021, Afghanistan had successfully rebuilt infrastructure to create a functional telecom sector that covered nearly all of the population; due to mountainous geography, Afghanistan relies on its mobile network; mobile broadband penetration growing, but is still low compared to other countries in Asia; operator launched LTE in Kabul; World Bank and other donors support development of a nationwide fiber backbone; terrestrial cable connectivity to five neighboring countries; work on the ‘Wakhan Corridor Fiber Optic Survey Project’ to connect to China is nearing completion; major importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2021)

domestic: before 15 August 2021, less than 1 per 100 for fixed-line teledensity; 59 per 100 for mobile-cellular; an increasing number of Afghans utilize mobile-cellular phone networks (2021)

international: country code - 93; multiple VSAT's provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity (2019)
Broadcast media: since 15 August 2021, independent media outlets have decreased in number due to financial hardships, departure of staff from the country, and restrictions placed by the Taliban; media workers report self-censoring criticism of the Taliban; before 15 August 2021, the former Afghan Government-owned broadcaster, Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA), operated a series of radio and television stations in Kabul and the provinces and the country had an estimated 174 private radio stations and 83 TV stations; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans in urban areas use the internet, mostly through smartphones, and young adults are significantly more likely to use the internet (2021)
Internet country code: .af
Internet users: total: 7,007,101 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 18% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 26,570 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 13

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,722,612 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29.56 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YA
Airports: total: 46 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 8

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 466 km gas (2013)
Roadways: total: 34,903 km (2017)

paved: 17,903 km (2017)

unpaved: 17,000 km (2017)
Waterways: 1,200 km (2011) (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT)
Ports and terminals: river port(s): Hairatan, Qizil Qal`ah (Amu Darya)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: as of 2022, the Taliban had established a Ministry of Defense and named commanders and deputy commanders for 8 regional corps; in December 2021, it announced the formation of a police force (2022)
Military expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $2.35 billion)

3.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $2.31 billion)

3.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $2.34 billion)

3.1% of GDP (2016) (approximately $2.6 billion)

2.9% of GDP (2015) (approximately $2.22 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: not available; in early 2022, the Taliban announced intentions to form a military of approximately 110,000 personnel; prior to August 2021, the ANDSF had approximately 300,000 personnel (180,000 Ministry of Defense; 120,000 Ministry of Interior) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the former Afghan military's inventory was mostly a mix of Soviet-era and more modern US and Russian equipment (2021)
Military service age and obligation: not available
Military - note: as of early 2022, the Taliban’s primary security objective was maintaining public order in urban areas, especially Kabul, fighting ISIS-K, and maintaining border securityas of early 2022, the Taliban’s primary security objective was maintaining public order in urban areas, especially Kabul, fighting ISIS-K, and maintaining border security

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Haqqani Taliban Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent; Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix T

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Afghanistan-China: None identified

Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought

Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts.

Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified

Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified

Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.

Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countriesAfghanistan-China: None identified

Afghanistan-Iran: Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey; Iran protests Afghanistan's restricting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought

Afghanistan-Pakistan: Pakistan has built fences in some portions of its border with Afghanistan which remains open in some areas to terrorist and other illegal activities. Their alignments may not always be in conformance with Durand Line and original surveyed definitions of the boundary. Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps and since 2014 have met to discuss collaboration on the Taliban insurgency and counterterrorism efforts.

Afghanistan-Tajikistan: None identified

Afghanistan-Turkmenistan: None identified

Afghanistan-Uzbekistan: None identified. Boundary follows Amu Darya river as delimited in the Afghan-Soviet treaties and not by the river's current course. The boundary was delimited and possibly demarcated during Soviet times (pre-1991). No current negotiations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to redelimit the boundary have been identified.

Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 72,188 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2021)

IDPs: 3.547 million (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to natural disasters and political instability) (2020)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims and returning Afghan migrants and exploit Afghan victims abroad; internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; traffickers exploit men, women, and a large number of children domestically; victims are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, brick kilns, carpet weaving, domestic servitude, commercial sex, begging, poppy cultivation and harvesting, salt mining, transnational drug smuggling, and truck driving; Afghan security forces and non-state armed groups, including the pro-government militias and the Taliban, continue to unlawfully recruit and use child soldiers; sexual exploitation of boys remains pervasive nationwide, and traffickers subject some boys to sexual exploitation abroad

tier rating: Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased law enforcement efforts against civilian and official perpetrators of trafficking, and officials complicit in recruitment and use of child soldiers and the sexual exploitation of boys continued to operate with impunity; authorities continued to arrest, detain, and penalize many trafficking victims, including punishing sex trafficking victims for “moral crimes”; the judiciary remained underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained (2020)Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government decreased law enforcement efforts against civilian and official perpetrators of trafficking, and officials complicit in recruitment and use of child soldiers and the sexual exploitation of boys continued to operate with impunity; authorities continued to arrest, detain, and penalize many trafficking victims, including punishing sex trafficking victims for “moral crimes”; the judiciary remained underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained (2020)
Illicit drugs: the world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2019; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world (2018)the world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2019; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world


Topic: Photos of Wake Island

Topic: Introduction
Background: Wake Island was probably visited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers, and oral legends tell of periodic voyages to the islands by people from the Marshall Islands. Wake Island was uninhabited when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de NEYRA became the first European to see it in 1568 and still had no humans when English captain Samuel WAKE sailed by it in 1796. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island in 1841 and the US annexed it in 1899 to use as a cable and refueling station between its newly acquired Pacific territories of Hawaii and the Philippines and Guam. In the 1930s, Pan-American Airways built facilities on Wake Island so that it could be used as a stopover for flights from the US to China. In January 1941, the US began to install military assets on Wake Island and in early December of that year, Japan attacked Wake Island, capturing it by the end of the month after a heroic resistance. Japan held Wake Island until the end of World War II, and in 1946, commercial airlines once again used Wake Island as a refueling stop.

In 1973, the Marshall Islands claimed Wake Island based on the oral legends, although the US has not recognized these claims. In 1974, the US military took exclusive control of the island’s airstrip and restricted visitors. In 1978, Bikini Islanders from the Marshall Islands, who were evacuated in the 1950s and 1960s because of US nuclear tests, considered rehoming on Wake Island, but the US military rejected that plan. Since the 1970s, the island has been important for missile defense testing. In 2009, Wake Island was included in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.Wake Island was probably visited by Micronesian and Polynesian settlers, and oral legends tell of periodic voyages to the islands by people from the Marshall Islands. Wake Island was uninhabited when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de NEYRA became the first European to see it in 1568 and still had no humans when English captain Samuel WAKE sailed by it in 1796. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island in 1841 and the US annexed it in 1899 to use as a cable and refueling station between its newly acquired Pacific territories of Hawaii and the Philippines and Guam. In the 1930s, Pan-American Airways built facilities on Wake Island so that it could be used as a stopover for flights from the US to China. In January 1941, the US began to install military assets on Wake Island and in early December of that year, Japan attacked Wake Island, capturing it by the end of the month after a heroic resistance. Japan held Wake Island until the end of World War II, and in 1946, commercial airlines once again used Wake Island as a refueling stop.

In 1973, the Marshall Islands claimed Wake Island based on the oral legends, although the US has not recognized these claims. In 1974, the US military took exclusive control of the island’s airstrip and restricted visitors. In 1978, Bikini Islanders from the Marshall Islands, who were evacuated in the 1950s and 1960s because of US nuclear tests, considered rehoming on Wake Island, but the US military rejected that plan. Since the 1970s, the island has been important for missile defense testing. In 2009, Wake Island was included in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 39 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 7 sq km

land: 6.5 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation: highest point: unnamed location 8 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards: subject to occasional typhoons
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
Map description: Wake Island map showing the three component islands and surrounding reef that make up the US territory in the North Pacific Ocean.Wake Island map showing the three component islands and surrounding reef that make up the US territory in the North Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: (2018 est.) no indigenous inhabitants

note: approximately 100 military personnel and civilian contractors maintain and operate the airfield and communications facilities
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA

15-24 years: NA

25-54 years: NA

55-64 years: NA

65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: potable water obtained through a catchment rainwater system and a desalinization plant for brackish ground water; hazardous wastes moved to an accumulation site for storage and eventual transport off site via barge
Climate: tropical
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Wake Island

etymology: although first discovered by British Captain William WAKE in 1792, the island is named after British Captain Samuel WAKE, who rediscovered the island in 1796
Dependency status: unincorporated unorganized territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the 11th US Air Force and managed from Pacific Air Force Support Center
Independence: none (territory of the US)
Legal system: US common law
Citizenship: see United States
Flag description: the flag of the US is used

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: satellite communications; 2 Defense Switched Network circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); located in the Hawaii area code - 808 (2018)
Broadcast media: American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio/TV broadcasts (2018)

Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Ports and terminals: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Transportation - note: there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island facilities; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Marshall Islandsclaimed by Marshall Islands


This entry measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.

Topic: Afghanistan29.4 (2008)

Topic: Albania33.2 (2017 est.)

30 (2008 est.)

Topic: Algeria27.6 (2011 est.)

Topic: Angola51.3 (2018 est.)

Topic: Argentina41.4 (2018 est.)

45.8 (2009)

Topic: Armenia34.4 (2018 est.)

31.5 (2013 est.)

Topic: Australia34.4 (2014 est.)

35.2 (1994)

Topic: Austria29.7 (2017 est.)

30.5 (2014)

Topic: Azerbaijan33.7 (2008)

36.5 (2001)

Topic: Bangladesh32.4 (2016 est.)

33.2 (2005)

Topic: Belarus25.2 (2018 est.)

21.7 (1998)

Topic: Belgium27.4 (2017 est.)

28.7 (1996)

Topic: Benin47.8 (2015 est.)

Topic: Bhutan37.4 (2017 est.)

38.1 (2007)

Topic: Bolivia42.2 (2018 est.)

57.9 (1999)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina33 (2011 est.)

33.1 (2007)

Topic: Botswana53.3 (2015 est.)

63 (1993)

Topic: Brazil53.9 (2018 est.)

54 (2004)

Topic: Bulgaria40.4 (2017 est.)

38.3 (2016)

Topic: Burkina Faso35.3 (2014 est.)

48.2 (1994)

Topic: Burma30.7 (2017 est.)

Topic: Burundi38.6 (2013 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde42.4 (2015 est.)

Topic: Cambodia37.9 (2008 est.)

41.9 (2004 est.)

Topic: Cameroon46.5 (2014 est.)

46.6 (2014 est.)

Topic: Canada33.3 (2017 est.)

31.5 (1994)

Topic: Central African Republic43.6 (2003 est.)

61.3 (1993)

Topic: Chad43.3 (2011 est.)

Topic: Chile44.4 (2017 est.)

57.1 (2000)

Topic: China38.5 (2016 est.)

46.2 (2015 est.)

Topic: Colombia50.4 (2018 est.)

53.5 (2014)

Topic: Comoros45.3 (2014 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the42.1 (2012 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the48.9 (2011 est.)

Topic: Costa Rica48 (2018 est.)

49.2 (2013)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire41.5 (2015 est.)

36.7 (1995)

Topic: Croatia30.4 (2017 est.)

32.1 (2014 est.)

Topic: Cyprus31.4 (2017 est.)

32.4 (2013 est.)

Topic: Czechia24.9 (2017 est.)

25.1 (2014)

Topic: Denmark28.7 (2017 est.)

27.5 (2010 est.)

Topic: Djibouti41.6 (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic43.7 (2018 est.)

45.7 (2012 est.)

Topic: Ecuador45.4 (2018 est.)

48.5 (December 2017)

note: data are for urban households only

Topic: Egypt31.5 (2017 est.)

29.8 (2012)

Topic: El Salvador38.6 (2018 est.)

38 (2014)

Topic: Estonia30.4 (2017 est.)

35.6 (2014)

Topic: Eswatini54.6 (2016 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia35 (2015 est.)

30 (2000)

Topic: European Union30.8 (2016 est.)

31 (2015 est.)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)36 (2015)

Topic: Faroe Islands22.7 (2013 est.)

21.6 (2011 est.)

Topic: Fiji36.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Finland27.4 (2017 est.)

22.2 (1995)

Topic: France31.6 (2017 est.)

29.2 (2015)

Topic: Gabon38 (2017 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The35.9 (2015 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip33.7 (2016 est.)

Topic: Georgia36.4 (2018 est.)

46 (2011)

Topic: Germany31.9 (2016 est.)

30 (1994)

Topic: Ghana43.5 (2016 est.)

42.3 (2012-13)
 41.9 (2005-06)

Topic: Greece34.4 (2017 est.)

35.7 (2011)

Topic: Greenland33.9 (2015 est.)

34.3 (2014 est.)

Topic: Guatemala48.3 (2014 est.)

56 (2011)

Topic: Guinea33.7 (2012 est.)

40.3 (1994)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau50.7 (2010 est.)

Topic: Guyana44.6 (2007)

43.2 (1999)

Topic: Haiti41.1 (2012 est.)

59.2 (2001)

Topic: Honduras52.1 (2018 est.)

45.7 (2009)

Topic: Hong Kong53.9 (2016)

53.7 (2011 est.)

Topic: Hungary30.6 (2017 est.)

28.6 (2014)

Topic: Iceland26.8 (2015 est.)

25 (2005)

Topic: India35.7 (2011 est.)

37.8 (1997)

Topic: Indonesia37.8 (2018 est.)

39.4 (2005)

Topic: Iran40.8 (2017 est.)

Topic: Iraq29.5 (2012 est.)

Topic: Ireland32.8 (2016 est.)

35.9 (1987 est.)

Topic: Israel37 (2018 est.)

39 (2016 est.)

39.2 (2008)

Topic: Italy35.9 (2017 est.)

27.3 (1995)

Topic: Jamaica35 (2016)

38 (2015)

Topic: Japan32.9 (2013 est.)

24.9 (1993)

Topic: Jersey0.3 (2014 est.)

0.3 (2013 est.)

Topic: Jordan33.7 (2010 est.)

36.4 (1997)

Topic: Kazakhstan27.5 (2017 est.)

31.5 (2003)

Topic: Kenya40.8 (2015 est.)

42.5 (2008 est.)

Topic: Korea, South35.4 (2015 est.)

31.6 (2012 est.)

Topic: Kosovo29 (2017 est.)

24.1 (2014 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan27.7 (2018 est.)

29 (2001)

Topic: Laos36.4 (2012 est.)

34.6 (2002)

Topic: Latvia35.6 (2017 est.)

35.4 (2014)

Topic: Lebanon31.8 (2011 est.)

Topic: Lesotho44.9 (2017 est.)

56 (1986-87)

Topic: Liberia35.3 (2016 est.)

38.2 (2007)

Topic: Lithuania37.3 (2017 est.)

35 (2014)

Topic: Luxembourg34.9 (2017 est.)

26 (2005 est.)

Topic: Macau35 (2013)

38 (2008)

Topic: Madagascar42.6 (2012 est.)

42.7 (2010)

Topic: Malawi44.7 (2016 est.)

39 (2004)

Topic: Malaysia41 (2015 est.)

49.2 (1997)

Topic: Maldives31.3 (2016 est.)

37.4 (2004 est.)

Topic: Mali40.1 (2001)

50.5 (1994)

Topic: Malta29.2 (2017 est.)

27.7 (2014)

Topic: Mauritania32.6 (2014 est.)

39 (2006 est.)

Topic: Mauritius36.8 (2017 est.)

39 (2006 est.)

Topic: Mexico36.8 (2018 est.)

48.3 (2008)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of40.1 (2013 est.)

Topic: Moldova25.7 (2018 est.)

26.8 (2014 est.)

Topic: Mongolia32.7 (2018 est.)

36.5 (2008)

Topic: Montenegro39 (2015 est.)

32.3 (2013 est.)

Topic: Morocco39.5 (2013 est.)

39.5 (1999 est.)

Topic: Mozambique54 (2014 est.)

47.3 (2002)

Topic: Namibia59.1 (2015 est.)

70.7 (2003)

Topic: Nepal32.8 (2010 est.)

47.2 (2008 est.)

Topic: Netherlands28.5 (2017 est.)

25.1 (2013 est.)

Topic: New Zealand36.2 (1997)

Topic: Nicaragua46.2 (2014 est.)

45.8 (2009)

Topic: Niger34.3 (2014 est.)

50.5 (1995)

Topic: Nigeria35.1 (2018 est.)

50.6 (1997)

Topic: North Macedonia34.2 (2017 est.)

35.2 (2014)

Topic: Norway27 (2017 est.)

25.8 (1995)

Topic: Pakistan33.5 (2015 est.)

30.9 (FY2011)

Topic: Panama49.2 (2018 est.)

56.1 (2003)

Topic: Papua New Guinea50.9 (1996)

Topic: Paraguay46.2 (2018 est.)

53.2 (2009)

Topic: Peru42.8 (2018 est.)

51 (2005)

Topic: Philippines44.4 (2015 est.)

46 (2012 est.)

Topic: Poland29.7 (2017 est.)

33.7 (2008)

Topic: Portugal33.8 (2017 est.)

34 (2014 est.)

Topic: Qatar41.1 (2007)

Topic: Romania36 (2017 est.)

28.2 (2010)

Topic: Russia37.5 (2018 est.)

41.9 (2013)

Topic: Rwanda43.7 (2016 est.)

51.3 (2010 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia51.2 (2016 est.)

Topic: Samoa38.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe56.3 (2017 est.)

32.1 (2000 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia45.9 (2013 est.)

Topic: Senegal40.3 (2011 est.)

Topic: Serbia36.2 (2017 est.)

28.2 (2008 est.)

Topic: Seychelles46.8 (2013 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone35.7 (2018 est.)

62.9 (1989)

Topic: Singapore45.9 (2017)

45.8 (2016)

Topic: Slovakia25.2 (2016 est.)

26.1 (2014)

Topic: Slovenia24.2 (2017 est.)

24.5 (2015)

Topic: Solomon Islands37.1 (2013 est.)

Topic: South Africa63 (2014 est.)

63.4 (2011 est.)

Topic: South Sudan46 (2010 est.)

Topic: Spain34.7 (2017 est.)

32 (2005)

Topic: Sri Lanka39.8 (2016 est.)

46 (1995)

Topic: Sudan34.2 (2014 est.)

Topic: Sweden28.8 (2017 est.)

25 (1992)

Topic: Switzerland32.7 (2017 est.)

33.1 (1992)

Topic: Taiwan33.6 (2014)

32.6 (2000)

Topic: Tajikistan34 (2015 est.)

34.7 (1998)

Topic: Tanzania40.5 (2017 est.)

34.6 (2000)

Topic: Thailand36.4 (2018 est.)

48.4 (2011)

Topic: Timor-Leste28.7 (2014 est.)

38 (2002 est.)

Topic: Togo43.1 (2015 est.)

Topic: Tonga37.6 (2015 est.)

Topic: Tunisia32.8 (2015 est.)

41.7 (1995 est.)

Topic: Turkey41.9 (2018 est.)

43.6 (2003)

Topic: Turkmenistan40.8 (1998)

Topic: Tuvalu39.1 (2010 est.)

Topic: Uganda42.8 (2016 est.)

45.7 (2002)

Topic: Ukraine26.1 (2018 est.)

28.2 (2009)

Topic: United Arab Emirates32.5 (2014 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom34.8 (2016 est.)

33.4 (2010)

Topic: United States41.1 (2016 est.)

40.8 (1997)

Topic: Uruguay39.7 (2018 est.)

41.9 (2013)

Topic: Uzbekistan36.8 (2003)

44.7 (1998)

Topic: Vanuatu37.6 (2010 est.)

Topic: Venezuela39 (2011)

49.5 (1998)

Topic: Vietnam35.7 (2018 est.)

37.6 (2008)

Topic: West Bank33.7 (2016 est.)

38.7 (2007 est.)

note: includes Gaza Strip

Topic: World37.9 (2012 est.)

37.9 (2005 est.)

Topic: Yemen36.7 (2014 est.)

37.3 (1999 est.)

Topic: Zambia57.1 (2015 est.)

50.8 (2004)

Topic: Zimbabwe44.3 (2017 est.)

50.1 (2006)


Topic: Photos of Tonga

Topic: Introduction
Background: The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were probably highly centralized under the Tu’i Tonga, or Tongan king, by A.D. 950, and by 1200, the Tu’i Tonga had expanded his influence throughout Polynesia and into Melanesia and Micronesia. The Tongan Empire began to decline in the 1300s, descending into civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife that saw successive leaders assassinated. By the mid-1500s, some Tu’i Tongans were ethnic Samoan and day-to-day administration of Tonga was transferred to a new position occupied by ethnic Tongans.

Dutch sailors explored the islands in the 1600s and British Captain James COOK visited Tonga three times in the 1770s, naming them the Friendly Islands for the positive reception he thought he received, even though the Tongans he encountered were plotting ways to kill him. In 1799, Tonga fell into a new round of civil wars over succession. Wesleyan missionaries arrived in 1822, quickly converting the population. In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and won the support of the missionaries by declaring that he would dedicate Tonga to God. The chief soon made alliances with leaders on most of the other islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy. Tupou I declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and his successor, King George TUPOU II, agreed to enter a protectorate agreement with the UK in 1900 after rival Tongan chiefs tried to overthrow him. As a protectorate, Tonga never completely lost its indigenous governance, but it did become more isolated and the social hierarchy became more stratified between a group of nobles and a large class of commoners. Today, about one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for nobles.

Queen Salote TUPOU III negotiated the end of the protectorate in 1965, which was achieved under King TUPOU IV, who in 1970 withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. A prodemocracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by future Prime Minister ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on prodemocracy legislation. To appease the activists, in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010; he died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother ‘Aho’eitu TUPOU VI. Tropical Cyclone Gita, the strongest-ever recorded storm to impact Tonga, hit the islands in February 2018 causing extensive damage.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
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: total: 747 sq km

land: 717 sq km

water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
Elevation: highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)

other: 44.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ouvolcanism: 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 Tofuacyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ouvolcanism: 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
Geography - note: 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
Map description: Tonga map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean.Tonga map showing the major islands that make up this archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 105,517 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tongan(s)

adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups: Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified <0.1% (2016 est.)
Languages: Tongan and English 76.8%, Tongan, English, and other language 10.6%, Tongan only (official) 8.7%, English only (official) 0.7%, other 1.7%, none 2.2% (2016 est.)

note: data represent persons aged 5 and older who can read and write a simple sentence in Tongan, English, or another language
Religions: Protestant 64.1% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 35%, Free Church of Tonga 11.9%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 1.6%, other 4.3%), Church of Jesus Christ 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2%, other 2.4%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 17,250/female 16,698)

15-24 years: 19.66% (male 10,679/female 10,175)

25-54 years: 35.35% (male 18,701/female 18,802)

55-64 years: 6.17% (male 3,345/female 3,202)

65 years and over: 6.83% (2020 est.) (male 3,249/female 3,994)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 68.6

youth dependency ratio: 58.6

elderly dependency ratio: 10

potential support ratio: 10 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 24.1 years

male: 23.6 years

female: 24.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.26% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 20.31 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -18.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Urbanization: urban population: 23.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.9 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 12.41 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 11.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.53 years

male: 75.89 years

female: 79.23 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.3% (2019)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.8% of population

rural: 99.6% of population

total: 99.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population

rural: 0.4% of population

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.54 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 98.8% of population

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 1.2% of population

total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.4% (2019)

women married by age 18: 10.1% (2019)

men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures: 8% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population: 99.4%

male: 99.4%

female: 99.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.9%

male: 5.7%

female: 13.1% (2018)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: 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
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Land use: agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)

other: 44.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 23.1% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga

conventional short form: Tonga

local long form: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga

local short form: Tonga

former: Friendly Islands

etymology: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Nuku'alofa

geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W

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

etymology: composed of the words "nuku," meaning "residence or abode," and "alofa," meaning "love," to signify "abode of love"
Administrative divisions: 5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday: Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
Constitution: history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016

amendments: 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; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013
Legal system: English common law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI

head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in in November 2025)

election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10

note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party (elected members) - independents 11, nobles' representatives 9,  Democratic Party 3, Peoples Party 3; composition - men 26, women 0, percent of women 0%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); 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

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

subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]
Sustainable Nation-Building Party [Sione FONUA]
Tonga Democratic Labor Party
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or THRDM
Tonga People's Party or PAK (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) [Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA] (split from Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Viliami Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)

chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022

telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025

FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024

email address and website:
tongaunmission@aol.com

consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga, red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice, and white signifies purity
National symbol(s): red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
National anthem: name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)

lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT

note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Tonga has a small, open island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand.   The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer opportunities for investment.   Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.Tonga has a small, open island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care and education. Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil. Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer opportunities for investment. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $670 million (2019 est.)

$660 million (2018 est.)

$660 million (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)

4.2% (2016 est.)

3.5% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $6,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$6,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$6,472 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $455 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (2017 est.)

2.6% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.)

industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)

services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 99.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 21.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -68.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, gourds, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, roots/tubers nes, plantains, lemons/limes
Industries: tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 33,800 (2011 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.)

industry: 27.5% (2006 est.)

services: 2,006% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2011 est.)

1.1% (2006)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.9%

male: 5.7%

female: 13.1% (2018)
Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2010 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.6 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 181.2 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 181.2 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 48% of GDP (FY2017 est.)

51.8% of GDP (FY2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 39.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: -$53 million (2017 est.)

-$30 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $90 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$110 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$100 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%,  (2019)
Exports - commodities: squash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019)
Imports: $300 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$330 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$320 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Fiji 29%, New Zealand 23%, China 14%, United States 8%, Australia 6%, Japan 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, poultry meats, audio equipment, mutton, goat meat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $198.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$176.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -

2.27015 (2020 est.)

2.29095 (2019 est.)

2.22717 (2018 est.)

2.106 (2014 est.)

1.847 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 98.9% (2018)

electrification - urban areas: 98.9% (2018)

electrification - rural areas: 98.9% (2018)
Electricity - production: 52 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 48.36 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 20,300 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 900 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 910 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 62,104 (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59.43 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: high speed Internet provided by 3 MNOs, has subsequently allowed for better health care services, faster connections for education and growing e-commerce services; in 2018 new 4G LTE network; fixed-line teledensity has dropped given mobile subscriptions; mobile technology dominates given the island's geography; satellite technology is widespread and is important especially in areas away from the city; the launch in 2019 of the Kacific-1 broadband satellite has made broadband more widely available for around 89 remote communities (2020)

domestic: fixed-line 6 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 59 telephones per 100; fully automatic switched network (2019)

international: country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)
Internet country code: .to
Internet users: total: 42,844 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 41% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A3
Airports: total: 6 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 680 km (2011)

paved: 184 km (2011)

unpaved: 496 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 32

by type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Tonga Defense Services (His Majesty's Armed Forces): Joint Force headquarters, Territorial Forces, Land Force, Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing, and Support Unit (2021)
Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.) (approximately $10 million)

2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $12 million)

1.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $7.1 million)

2.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $10 million)

1.7% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $7.6 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Tonga Defense Services have approximately 500 personnel (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tonga military's inventory includes mostly light weapons and equipment from European (primarily the UK) countries and the US, as well as naval patrol vessels from Australia; Australia is the only supplier of military systems since 2010 (2021)
Military service age and obligation: men and women, 18-25, may volunteer; no conscription (2021)
Military - note: Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Fiji  maritime boundary dispute with Fiji