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Nuku'alofa

110,237 (July 2004 est.)

The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

hereditary constitutional monarchy

purchasing power parity - $236 million (2001 est.)

2,900 (2002)

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