Page last updated on February 8,

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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 190
land: 717 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 30 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
419 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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:
most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: unnamed elevation on Kao Island 1,033 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
fish, fertile soil

Land use:
arable land: 20%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 14.67%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 65.33% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
volcanism: the Tonga Islands experience volcanic activity; Fonualei (elev. 180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (elev. 260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua

Environment - current issues:
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)