Tonga (/ ˈtɒŋə / TONG-ə, / ˈtɒŋɡə / ⓘ TONG-gə; [a]Tongan: [ˈtoŋa]), officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands - of which 45 are inhabited. [1]

Tongan is one of the multiple languages in the Polynesian branch of the Austronesian languages, along with Hawaiian, Māori, Samoan and Tahitian, for example. Together with Niuean, it forms the Tongic subgroup of Polynesian.

Mar 31, 2025 · Most of the Tongan population lives in the three major island groups, and nearly three-fourths live on Tongatapu Island. The urban population has been steadily growing and now accounts for about one-third of the total population.

A culturally adept Tongan learns both sets of rules and when to switch between them. Any description of Tongan culture that limits itself to what Tongans see as anga fakatonga would give a seriously distorted view of what people actually do, in Tonga, or in diaspora, because accommodations are so often made to anga fakapālangi.

Nov 13, 2023 · The waters around Tonga are known for their deep-sea trenches, including the Tonga Trench, one of the deepest parts of the ocean. The lowest point in Tonga is the Pacific Ocean's surface, at sea level. Elsewise, the Tongan archipelago is divided into three main geographical regions: Tongatapu, Haʻapai, and Vavaʻu.

Jan 15, 2022 · From 1983 to 1991, despite domestic and international objections, the government sold some 6,600 Tongan passports to foreign nationals. The revenue from the sale—purportedly some $30 million—was invested in a trust fund that in the late 1990s came under the control of an American businessman, Jesse Bogdonoff.

Beautiful beaches, turquoise waters and swaying coconut palms can be found in many places in the world, but only in Tonga can you experience the unique Tongan culture.

Tonga facts, Tonga geography, travel Tonga, Tonga internet resources, links to Tonga. Official web sites of Tonga, the capital of Tonga, art, culture, history, cities ...

Because of her vision, Tongan culture is an integral part of the school curriculum. Students learn Tongan history, traditional poetry, music, and dancing, along with wood carving, mat weaving, and bark cloth making.

Mar 31, 2025 · A tsunami warning has been lifted for Tonga after a strong 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the Pacific Island country. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of potential ...