Almost two-thirds of the population of the Kingdom of Tonga live on its main island, Tongatapu. Although an increasing number of Tongans have moved into the only urban and commercial center, Nuku'alofa, where European and indigenous cultural and living patterns have blended, village life and kinship ties continue to be important throughout the country. Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Christian faith; for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease from midnight Saturday until midnight Sunday, and the constitution declares the Sabbath to be sacred, forever.
Tongans, a Polynesian group with a very small mixture of Melanesian, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. The rest are European, mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. There also are several hundred Chinese.
Primary education between ages 6 and 14 is compulsory and free in state schools. Mission schools provide about 83% of the primary and 90% of the secondary level education. Higher education includes teacher training, nursing and medical training, a small private university, a women's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools. Most higher education is pursued overseas.
Population: 102,321 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
41.52% (male 21,633; female 20,850)
15-64 years:
54.43% (male 27,419; female 28,274)
65 years and over:
4.05% (male 1,877; female 2,268) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 24.92 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.86 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.83 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.94 years
male:
65.54 years
female:
70.45 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Tongan(s)
adjective:
Tongan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Literacy:
definition:
can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population:
98.5%
male:
98.4%
female:
98.7% (1996 est.)
- See also : Tonga
