About half of all public revenues accrued from customs duties on imported goods; the remainder came mainly from export duties, port fees, income taxes, and stamp revenues. Principal items of expenditure were public health, medical services, education, and agriculture.
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 1999/2000 Tonga's central government took in revenues of approximately $39.9 million and had expenditures of $52.4 million including capital expenditures of $1.9 million. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $12.5 million. External debt totaled $57.5 million.
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