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Almost two-thirds of the population of the Kingdom of Tonga live on its main island, Tongatapu. Although an increasing number of Tongans have moved into the only urban and commercial center, Nuku'alofa, where European and indigenous cultural and living patterns have blended, village life and kinship ties continue to be important throughout the country. Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Christian faith; for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease from midnight Saturday until midnight Sunday, and the constitution declares the Sabbath to be sacred, forever. Tonga is said to have the highest proportion of Mormons of any state or country outside of Utah. Other important Christian denominations include Methodists (Free Wesleyan) and Roman Catholics.

Tongans, a Polynesian group with a very small mixture of Melanesian, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. The rest are European, mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. There also are several hundred Chinese.

Primary education between ages 6 and 14 is compulsory and free in state schools. Mission schools provide about 83% of the primary and 90% of the secondary level education. Higher education includes teacher training, nursing and medical training, a small private university, a women's business college, and a number of private agricultural schools. Most higher education is pursued overseas.

Contents 1 Population 2 Age structure 3 Population growth rate 4 Birth rate 5 Death rate 6 Net migration rate 7 Sex ratio 8 Total population 9 Infant mortality rate 10 Life expectancy at birth 11 Total fertility rate 12 Nationality 13 Ethnic groups 14 Religions 15 Languages 16 Literacy

112,422 (July 2005 est.)

0-14 years: 36.2% (male 20,738/female 19,907)

15-64 years: 59.7% (male 33,226/female 33,853)

65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,031/female 2,667) (2005 est.)

1.98% (2005 est.)

25.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Total population: 69.53 years

Male: 67.05 years

Female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)

3 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Noun: Tongan(s)

Adjective: Tongan

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Christian (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 48,767 adherents as of 2002 [1]; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000, the Roman Catholic Church claims over 15,000 adherents).

Tongan, English

Definition: Can read and write Tongan and/or English

Total population: 98.5%

Male: 98.4%

Female: 98.7% (1996 est.)