Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an archipelago of about 170 islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, of which approximately 45 are inhabited. The country covers about 650–750 square kilometers and has a population around 98,000–104,000, with most people living on the main island, Tongatapu.

Nukuʿalofa is the capital. Tongans are of Polynesian ancestry, and the official languages are Tongan and English. Tonga is the only Polynesian kingdom to have retained its monarchy since pre-European times and became fully independent in 1970. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, fishing, and remittances from abroad, with tourism growing in importance. Christianity, predominantly Protestantism, is the main religion.