Factbook
Histoire de Tonga — Chronologie
Dates clés de l'histoire de Tonga, d'après le Factbook Magna et l'Encyclopédie universelle.
1799Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder.
1845During TUPOU's reign (1845–93), Tonga became a unified and independent country with a modern constitution (1875), legal code, and administrative structure.
1845In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy.
1876In separate treaties, Germany (1876), Great Britain (1879), and the US (1888) recognized Tonga’s independence.
1900His son and successor, King George TUPOU II, agreed to enter a protectorate agreement with the UK in 1900 after rival Tongan chiefs tried to overthrow him.
1970Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status).
1970Tonga regained full control of domestic and foreign affairs and became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth in 1970.
2006A pro-democracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on reform.
2008To appease the activists, in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010 and henceforth most of the monarch’s governmental decisions, except those relating to the judiciary, were to be made in consultation with the prime minister.
2010The 2010 Legislative Assembly was called Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament.
2012King George TUPOU V died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother Crown Prince Tupouto‘a Lavaka who ruled as George TUPOU VI.
2015In 2015, ‘Akalisi POHIVA became Tonga’s first non-noble prime minister.
2018Major urban areas: 23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018) upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub Inflation: 3.2% (2024 est.).
2021Languages: Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.) Religions: Protestant 63.9% (Free Wesleyan Church 34.2%, Free Church of Tonga 11.3%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assembly of God 2.5%, Tokaikolo/Maamafo'ou 1.5%, Constitutional Church of Tonga 1.2%, other Protestant 4%), Church of Jesus Christ 19.7%, Roman Catholic 13.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: tourism, construction, fishing Agriculture: coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023).
2024Military spending: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.).
