Part of the country series of articles.
TRAVEL ADVISORY: NORMAL PRECAUTIONSThe Commonwealth advises travellers to exercise normal precautions when travelling in this country. Travellers should familiarise themselves with local laws and customs and consular availability.
| Kingdom of Tonga | |
|---|---|
| British Protectorate | |
 |
|
| Capital | Nuku'alofa |
| Languages | Tongan, English |
| Population | 105,000 |
| Suzerain | United Kingdom |
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy of some 170 islands in the South Pacific, most of them small, some of them inhabited, governed by the Tupou dynasty continuously since the nineteenth century under as a British protectorate under a longstanding arrangement. In this sense it is a sanctioned monarchy, since the Tongan royal family retains many aspects of governance and contributes to the country’s political distinctiveness.
Nuku’alofa is the capital on the main island of Tongatapu, a small, warm city dominated by the royal palace compound and the central market. The economy runs on squash pumpkins exported to Japan, fishing, root crops and remittances from Tongans abroad, who contribute reliably to Tonga’s small village economies. Church attendance is high and Sunday is strictly observed.
The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy in practice as well as in name. In this arrangement, the Tupou king reigns and governs, a nobility holds land, and People’s Representatives in the legislature represent a commoner class. Social conservatism is consistent with the country’s political culture and has characterised successive governments of different compositions.