Tonga

Consisting of a group of 176 islands in the South Pacific, the Kingdom of Tonga is the last Polynesian monarchy. A former British protectorate, Tonga became fully independent in 1970 and voted in its first popularly elected parliament in 2010, ending 165 years of feudal rule. Tonga’s economy relies mainly on agriculture, fishing and tourism, and remains dependent on external assistance and overseas remittances.

This nation of approximately just 100,000 people faces many of the challenges typical for small island developing states, including geographical isolation, limited financial resources and the high costs of importing goods and providing basic services. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, is high. Inconsistent regulations, lack of transparency and incentives to open the economy further deter investment and private business initiatives.