At a Glance
Tonga: References & Edit History
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Additional Reading
Matt Fletcher, Tonga, 4th ed. (2001), is a good general guidebook. Elizabeth Bott, Tongan Society at the Time of Captain Cook’s Visits: Discussions with Her Majesty Queen Sālote Tupou (1982), is a standard historical reference. Sione Lātūkefu, Church and State in Tonga: The Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries and Political Development, 1822–1875 (1974), is a detailed history. A.H. Wood, A History and Geography of Tonga (1943, reprinted 2003), is a brief but excellent introduction. Noel Rutherford, Friendly Islands: A History of Tonga (1977), provides comprehensive coverage of life in Tonga; and I.C. Campbell, Island Kingdom, 2nd rev. ed. (2001), gives the history of Tonga from ancient to contemporary times.
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
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Sophie Foster
Journalist, Suva, Fiji.
- Sione Latukefu
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Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Added media. | Nov 02, 2026 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated seats in legislature. | Sep 03, 2026 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Dec 19, 2025 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Feb 03, 2025 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated head of government. | Dec 09, 2024 | ||
| Changed "Bogdanoff" to "Bogdonoff." | Sep 28, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of The Kingdom of Tonga. | Jun 29, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - Federated States of Tonga. | Oct 21, 2022 | ||
| In the History section, updated with the volcano eruption and ensuing tsunami in January 2022. | Jan 18, 2022 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Head of government. | Jan 05, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: CRW Flags - Flag of Tonga. | May 29, 2021 | ||
| In the History section, updated with the death of the prime minister and who succeeded him. | Oct 01, 2019 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated head of government. | Sep 30, 2019 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated head of government. | Sep 12, 2019 | ||
| Add new Web site: Interesting Facts for Kids - Interesting Tonga Facts. | Jan 18, 2019 | ||
| Country Profile: Expanded country profile. | Sep 07, 2018 | ||
| Corrected display issue. | Apr 18, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | Apr 18, 2017 | ||
| Media added. | Mar 17, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Tonga. | Dec 05, 2016 | ||
| Add new Web site: Official Tourism Site of the Kingdom of Tonga. | Dec 05, 2016 | ||
| In People section, updated information on ethnicity and religious affiliation; in Economy section, updated data on foreign trade. | Jun 03, 2016 | ||
| Added locator map and photograph to the Introduction and a photograph to the Government section; in People and Economy sections, added data charts. | Jun 03, 2016 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated form of government; updated head of government; revised footnotes. | Mar 21, 2016 | ||
| Updated for a new undersea fibre-optic cable providing Tonga with high-speed Internet access. | Aug 22, 2013 | ||
| Country Profile: Footnote revised for head of state; updated literacy. | Mar 04, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Maps of World - Tonga. | Jan 10, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Official Site of the Government of Tonga. | Jan 10, 2013 | ||
| Updated to add name of King Tupou VI. | Mar 28, 2012 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated name of king to Tupou VI. | Mar 28, 2012 | ||
| Updated for death of King George Tupou V. | Mar 19, 2012 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated for death of King George Tupou V. | Mar 19, 2012 | ||
| Country Profile: Added name of head of state and head of government, along with urban-rural, life expectancy, literacy, and GNI per capita statistics. | Mar 01, 2012 | ||
| Country Profile: Changed form of government. | Mar 01, 2012 | ||
| Add new Web site: Iloveindia.com - Tonga. | Jul 27, 2011 | ||
| Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Tonga. | Jul 26, 2011 | ||
| Country Profile: Changed Form of government. | Feb 14, 2011 | ||
| Updated Government section to reflect changes in the composition of the Legislative Assembly. | Feb 14, 2011 | ||
| Updated for results of November 2010 parliamentary elections. | Jan 12, 2011 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated area and population figures. | Mar 12, 2010 | ||
| Country Profile: Updated Official name; updated Capital. | Oct 20, 2009 | ||
| Updated for Sept. 29, 2009, earthquake and tsunami. | Oct 06, 2009 | ||
| Changed the official Tongan name to Fakatu'i 'o Tonga. | Apr 23, 2009 | ||
| Added new Web site: National Geographic - Travel and Cultures - Tonga. | Apr 17, 2009 | ||
| Updated for change in powers of king. | Oct 20, 2008 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Oct 20, 2008 | ||
| Country Profile: Changed head of government. | Aug 27, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - Geography of Tonga. | Jul 30, 2008 | ||
| Article thoroughly revised. | Jan 25, 2008 | ||
| History updated. | Jan 25, 2008 | ||
| Bibliography revised and updated. | Jan 25, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Jane Oceania - Tonga. | Jan 11, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Official Site for the Statistics Department - Tonga. | Dec 21, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Library of Congress - Tonga - Selected Internet Resources. | Aug 08, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Tonga. | Jul 24, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: Tonga on the 'Net. | May 22, 2006 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 26, 1999 |
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