Tonga

Pule'anga Tonga Kingdom of Tonga
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ko e ʻOtua mo Tonga ko hoku tofiʻa ("God and Tonga are my Inheritance")
Anthem: Ko e fasi ʻo e tuʻi ʻo e ʻOtu Tonga
Capital	Nukuʻalofa 21°08′S 175°12′W
Largest city	Nukuʻalofa
Official languages	Tongan, English
Government	Monarchy
- King	George Tupou V
- Prime Minister	Dr. Feleti Sevele
Monarchy
- Independence	4 June 1970, from British protectorate status
Area
- Total	748 km² (186th) 289 sq mi
- Water (%)	4
Population
- July 2005 estimate	102,000 (194th)
- Density	153 /km² (67th1) 396 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$817 million (167th)
- Per capita	$7,984 (76th)
HDI (2004)	0.815 (high) (55th)
Currency	Paʻanga (TOP)
Internet TLD	.to
Calling code	+676
1 based on 2005 figures.

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan for "south"), is an independent archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. It lies about a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii, south of Samoa and east of Fiji.

The islands are also known as the Friendly Islands, the name given by Captain Cook because of the friendly reception he received. He happened to arrive at the time of ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga and was invited to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but had been unable to agree on a plan.