Divisions of Tonga

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Updates: 

Sorin Cosoveanu informed me of the availability of preliminary 2006 census data at the Tonga department of statistics  website.

ISO 3166-2 Newsletter I-8, published on 2007-04-17, has new ISO division codes for Tonga. They are shown in the table below. International standard ISO 3166-2, as originally published (1998-12-15), mentioned that there were five divisions, but declined to list them. It said they were "not relevant". An even earlier version, ISO/DIS 3166-2 (draft international standard), showed three island groups with their codes.

The table below is based on one that has appeared in the Statesman's Year-Book since ~1990. The only difference between the island councils and the divisions is that the island council of Tongatapu corresponds to the divisions of 'Eua, Niuas, and Tongatapu.

Country overview: 

Tonga became a protectorate of Great Britain on 1900-05-18, formalizing a previous agreement. Great Britain abandoned the relationship on 1970-06-04, leaving Tonga completely independent.

Other names of country: 

1. Danish: Tonga
2. Dutch: Tonga, Koninkrijk Tonga (formal)
3. English: Kingdom of Tonga (formal), Friendly Islands (obsolete), Toga (obsolete)
4. Finnish: Tonga
5. French: Tonga fp
6. German: Tonga n
7. Italian: Tonga
8. Norwegian: Tonga, Kongeriket Tonga (formal)
9. Portuguese: Tonga n (m in Brazil), Reino m do Tonga (formal)
10. Spanish: Tonga, Reino m de Tonga (formal)
11. Swedish: Tonga
12. Tonga: Pule 'anga Tonga (formal)

Origin of name: 

shortened form of Tongatabu, from tonga: island, tabu: sacred

Primary subdivisions: 

Tonga is divided into five divisions.

Further subdivisions:

The divisions are subdivided into 23 districts. Some sources list three island groups instead of five divisions.

Territorial extent: 

1. Ha'apai includes the islands of the Ha'apai group, from Hunga Ha'apai to Kelefesia to Ha'ano to Kao. The largest are Lifuka and Tofua.
2. 'Eua includes 'Eua Island.
3. Niuas includes Niuatoputapu, Niuafo'ou, and Tafahi.
4. Tongatapu includes the Tongatapu Group, consisting of Tongatapu, 'Euaiki, and smaller islands, and 'Ata Island to the south.
5. Vava'u includes the islands of the Vava'u group, from Vava'u to Late to Fonualei.

Population history: