Article: Tonga

 All about tonga

Information sourced from Britannica and Cultural Atlas.

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. There are around 170 islands split in between three main island groups - Tongatapu (in the South), Ha’apai (in the centre), and Vava’u (in the North). There are islands that are isolated that are in the far north (Niuafoʿou, Niuatoputapu, and Tafahi) and the far south (‘Ata).

The capital of Tonga is Nukuʿalofa, which is on the island of Tongatapu. Tonga is a member of the Commonwealth and of the United Nations. This is the only island in the Pacific Nations that is still a monarchy, meaning that they have a Kingdom. The current King is Tupou VI and the Prime Minister is Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa.

Tongatapu Island, a raised ring-shaped island surrounded by coral in the Tongatapu Group, is the largest and most densely populated island in Tonga. The highest point in Tonga is on Kao Island in the Haʿapai Group, and sits at a height of 1,033 metres. The weather in Tonga during the summer is 27 °C and during the winter is between 16 - 21 °C. It can be quite humid throughout the year. There are 105,695 people that live in Tonga, but there are thousands of Tongan that live in other parts of the world. Tongan is the official language, taught to them in primary school, as well as English, which is usually studied as a second language.

Tongans have a special way in life which they refer to as ‘Anga Fakatonga’. They have four core values. They are Fefaka'apa'apa'aki (mutual respect), Feveitokai'aki (sharing, cooperating and fulfilment of mutual obligations), Lototoo (humility and generosity) and Tauhi vaha'a (loyalty and commitment). Family is the central unit of Tongan life. In Tongan culture, Religion is very important. Most Tongan families are members of a Christian church. Popular religions are Methodist, Mormon, and Catholic.