SAT Test Centers and Dates in Tonga

Culture

The numerous ethnic groups are culturally distinct, but they have some characteristics in common; the various communities, in fact, are directed by a leader, and are governed by a well-defined social, political and economic structure, which has the family as its pivot and in which cultural and social values ​​are encouraged. Daily life is marked by ancient habits, rituals and superstitions, while the salient moments in the life of each individual, such as birth, puberty, marriage and death are celebrated with special holidays. The tradition also lives on in dance and music, where themes such as love, death and hunting are dealt with. Typical craftsmanship is that of wax printing and batik in fabrics; kente is also well known of the ewe, with typically not very bright colors. In many areas it is still possible to attend traditional festivals that continue to have great popularity and resonance: in the northern region of Kabyé, for example, in Evala, in the month of July, a large festival is held that celebrates the entrance into adulthood.; during it spectacular fights are held, where the wrestlers are sprinkled with grease, and tests are made such as walking on hot coals. The harvest festivals in August, which are held in various locations, are also particularly popular. In 2004, UNESCO registered the typical fortified houses (called tata) of the Tambermas, which are located in the north-eastern area, not far from Kara. These are buildings of thatch, wood and clay, with towers covered with conical roofs that serve as warehouses for grain. The main dish consumed in Togo is pâte, a kind of dough made from wheat, millet, sweet potato or cassava accompanied with crab, spinach or peanut sauces. The most common meat is guinea fowl, while other renowned dishes are koliko (fried sweet potatoes) and abobo, snail skewer.

Country facts

• Official name: Kingdom of Tonga
• ISO-3166: TO, TON (776)
• Internet domain:.to
• Currency: 1 Pa’anga (T $) = 100 Seniti (s)
• Area: 750 km²
• Population (2019): 104 500
• Capital: Nuku’alofa
• Official language (s): Tongan
• Form of government: constitutional hereditary monarchy in the Commonwealth
• Administrative division: 5 districts (divisions)
• Head of State: King Tupou VI. (since March 18, 2012)
• Head of Government: Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (since September 27, 2019)
• Religion (s) (2016): Christians (64% Protestants, 19% Mormons, 14% Catholics), 3% other / n / a
• Time zone: Central European Time +12 hours
• National Day: June 4th

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): Oceania
• Position (coordinates): between 15 ° and 23 ° 30 ‘south latitude and 173 ° and 175 ° west longitude
• Climate: Tropical-maritime climate
• Highest mountain: Mount Kao (1,030 m)
• Road network (2011): 184 km (paved), 496 km (unpaved)

Population

• Annual population growth (2021): -0.2%
• Birth rate (2021): 20.6 per 1000 inh.
• Death rate (2021): 5 per 1,000 populations.
• Average age (2020): 24.1 years
• Average life expectancy (2021): 77.3 years (women 79; men 75.6)
• Age structure (2020): 32% younger than 15 years, 6.8% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15-year-olds and older) (2015): 99.4%
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2019): 59 per 100 pop.
• Internet users (2017): 41 per 100 residents.

Economy

• GDP per capita (2019): US $ 5,151
• Total GDP (2019): $ 0.517 billion
• GNI per capita (2019): US $ 5,000
• Education expenditure (2004): 3.9% of GDP
• Military expenditure: n / a
• Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2019): 1.1%