National Identity
- Official name
- Kingdom of Tonga
- Official name (in Tongan)
- Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
- Name etymology
the name is of local origin and is said to mean "island;" the former name, the Friendly Islands, came from Captain James COOK in 1773, based on the welcome he received from the inhabitants
Sources:- Constitution of Tonga ↗ - Tongan Legislation - Attorney General's Office, Tonga
- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- Ko e fasi ʻo e tuʻi ʻo e ʻOtu Tonga1:18
- Title (in Tongan)
- Ko e fasi ʻo e tuʻi ʻo e ʻOtu Tonga
- Title (in English, translated)
- Song of the King of the Tonga Islands
- Unofficial title (in Tongan)
- Fasi Fakafonua
- Unofficial title (in English, translated)
- National Song
- Lyrics
ʻE ʻotua māfimafi ko homau ʻeiki koe ko koe ko e falalaʻanga mo e ʻofa ki Tonga.
ʻAfio hifo ʻemau lotu ʻaia ʻoku mau faí ni mo ke tali homau loto ʻo maluʻi ʻa Tupou.
Source: - Citizens
- Tongans
- Official name:Constitution of Tonga ↗ - Tongan Legislation - Attorney General's Office, Tonga
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
- Total area
- 747 km²
- Land area
- 717 km²
- Water area
- 30 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 419 km
- Terrain
Mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock - Highest point
- 1,046 mKao Volcano on Kao Island
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December) - Avg. temperature
- 24.8 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 24.2 to 25.3 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,832 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 26.7 26.1 25.5 236 February 27.2 26.6 25.9 231 March 27.2 26.5 25.8 241 April 26.5 26 25.3 187 May 25.4 24.8 24.2 118 June 24.6 24 23.5 110 July 23.7 23.2 22.7 92 August 23.5 22.9 22.4 106 September 23.7 23.2 22.6 107 October 24.3 23.7 23.2 116 November 25.3 24.7 24.1 126 December 26.2 25.6 25 161 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable27.8%Perm. crops15.3%Pasture5.6%Forest12.1%Other39.3%
- Arable land
- 20,000 hectares (27.8%)
- Permanent crops
- 11,000 hectares (15.3%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 4,000 hectares (5.6%)
- Forest
- 8,730 hectares (12.1%)
- Other land
- 28,270 hectares (39.3%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Earthquakes7.1Very high#42/191Tsunamis5.7High#46/191Tropical cyclones5.6High#31/191Epidemics4.4Medium#112/191Drought0.5Very low#165/191River floods0.0Very lowCoastal floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.43% per year−451 people/yearWorld Rank202ndof 237
- Birth rate
- 22.6 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 6.5 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −20.5 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 21.0 yearsWorld Rank189thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years34.4%15-64 years58.6%65 years +7.0%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 7.0%
- Share aged under 18
- 41.6%
- Total dependency ratio
- 71
- Youth dependency ratio
- 59
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 12
- Sex ratio
- 0.89 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.5% 0.9% 70-79 1.3% 1.8% 60-69 2.7% 3.0% 50-59 4.1% 4.7% 40-49 4.0% 5.6% 30-39 3.7% 5.9% 20-29 7.3% 8.6% 10-19 12.3% 11.7% 0-9 11.4% 10.6% - 2026
- 0.94 above the replacement level for Tonga ()3.04 births per womanreplacement 2.101234World Rank56thof 237
- 1.43 daughters per woman0.43 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +16.2 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 16.2 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −20.5 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 21.2% live in 21,863 urban residents
- Largest towns2021
- Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Haveluloto, Tofoa-KolouaRankTown or VillagePopulation (2021 census)1Nuku'alofa21,1852Neiafu3,8253Haveluloto3,4734Tofoa-Koloua3,4675Vainī3,2956Ha'ateiho2,6277Popua2,3358Nukunuku2,1049Pea1,99110Lapaha1,974Source:
- Tonga Department of Statistics (2021 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied.
- Ethnic groups2021
- Tongan96.5%Other3.5%
Other includes European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, and other.
Source:- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Religions2021
- Protestant63.9%Church of Jesus Christ19.7%Roman Catholic13.7%Other2.1%None0.6%Unspecified0.1%
- 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
- 4.0%
Source:- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Languages
- Tongan (Lea faka-Tonga), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Tonga Department of Statistics (2021 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyThe Crown and Throne descend by hereditary law of succession, and the Constitution names the Kingdom's form "a Constitutional Monarchy" (Clauses 30, 32).Source:
- Constitution of Tonga, CAP. 01.01, 2016 Revised Edition ↗, Clauses 30, 32
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe King appoints as Prime Minister the elected representative recommended by the Legislative Assembly; a no-confidence vote removes the Prime Minister and all Ministers, and the King may dissolve the Assembly at his pleasure (Clauses 50A, 50B, 77).Source:
- Constitution of Tonga, CAP. 01.01, 2016 Revised Edition ↗, Clauses 50A, 50B, 77
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Nuku'alofa21,185 people(2021)
- National holidays
- 11 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- SatApr 25ANZAC Day
- MonJun 8Emancipation Day (observed)
- SatJul 4Birthday of the Reigning Sovereign of Tonga
- ThuSep 17Birthday of the Heir to the Crown of Tonga
- MonNov 2Constitution Day (observed)
- MonDec 7Anniversary of the Coronation of HM King George Tupou I (observed)
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Boxing Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- TOTTonga Standard TimeUTC+13
- Currency
- Tongan Paʻanga (TOP)
- Calling code
- +676
- Internet TLD
- .to
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- TO, TON
- Infrastructure
- Aircraft registration prefix
- A3
Source:- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of Tonga, CAP. 01.01, 2016 Revised Edition ↗ - Attorney General's Office of Tonga
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Economy
- Upper middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +1.8% per yearWorld Rank143rdof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $7,343 (111th in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services49.5% of GDPIndustry17.7% of GDPAgriculture18.6% of GDPManufacturing5.5%part of industry
- Households
- +96.2%
- Government
- +23.5%
- Investment
- +26.4%
- Exports
- +16.9%
- Imports
- −60.7%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useThe five add up to 102.4% of GDP, not 100. The gap is in the source data.
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 3.8%up 0.7 percentage points0.7pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 33,779 (32% of population)World Rank187thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 50.2% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 2.0%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 6.0% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $14.3 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 4.1% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 7.2% of GDP, $52 million deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt39.4% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$10.8 million10.4%
- Services$93.6 million89.6%
- Total exports
- $104.4 million
- Change from 2023
- up 28.5 percent on the previous year28.5%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Coconuts (in shell), Squash and gourds (including pumpkins), Taro, and 6 more
- 1Coconuts (in shell)88.6×
- 2Squash and gourds (including pumpkins)51.1×
- 3Taro16.3×
- 4Lemons and limes7.9×
- 5Sweet potatoes6.1×
- 6Plantains and cooking bananas4.5×
- 7Yams4.3×
- 8Cassava (fresh)1.7×
- 9Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)1.2×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- tourism, construction, fishing
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2023
- TOP 1,567 per month$663 (USD), $860 (PPP)
- Median
- TOP 1,295 per month($548)
- Men
- TOP 1,620 per month($685)
- Women
- TOP 1,499 per month($634)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Average gross salary:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.769HighWorld Rank92ndof 193TongaWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Tonga World 1990 0.641 0.608 1991 0.649 0.611 1992 0.654 0.614 1993 0.660 0.617 1994 0.670 0.620 1995 0.675 0.625 1996 0.678 0.631 1997 0.680 0.636 1998 0.685 0.641 1999 0.688 0.646 2000 0.688 0.651 2001 0.693 0.657 2002 0.700 0.662 2003 0.703 0.669 2004 0.705 0.675 2005 0.706 0.681 2006 0.708 0.688 2007 0.710 0.694 2008 0.717 0.698 2009 0.718 0.701 2010 0.724 0.707 2011 0.731 0.713 2012 0.735 0.717 2013 0.737 0.721 2014 0.740 0.726 2015 0.743 0.731 2016 0.749 0.735 2017 0.755 0.739 2018 0.759 0.741 2019 0.763 0.745 2020 0.765 0.742 2021 0.763 0.742 2022 0.764 0.752 2023 0.769 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2021
- 27.1
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 10.9 years
- Expected for a child today
- 17.8 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2023
- 99.5% of adults
- Education expenditure2022
- 5.3% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 9.8%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2022
- 61.6% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 36.2%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2022
- 64,838
- Fixed telephone lines
- 3,280
- Fixed broadband
- 8.2 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site18,400 arrivalsdown 73% against 201973% below 2019World Rank137thof 139
- Per resident
- 1.8 arrivals per 10 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 3,900 arrivals
- $62.6 million(2024)
- $58.1 million(2024)
- Hotel beds
- 1,890(2021, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2019
- 0.9 per 100,000 peopleVery low by global standards
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 0.9 1 2019 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2022
- 530.3 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 557
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 73.4 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 7.4% of GDP$358 per person
- Physicians2021
- 1.01 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2010latest available
- 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 8.1 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 67 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 0.3 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2015latest available
- 32.3% of adults
- Men
- 49.6%
- Women
- 15%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 33 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.17 Mt per yearup 4.9 percent on the previous year4.9% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 1.5 t per personWorld Rank136thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.1 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.03 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 0.29 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 1.5 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted221stof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement
- soil exhaustion
- water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities
- coral reefs and marine populations threatened
Source:- The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- International agreements
- 17 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 74 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1998 Kyoto Protocol in force 2008 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1998 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1998 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1998 CITES in force 2016 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol in force 2020 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention in force 2004 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1998 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2010 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2010 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2010 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2019 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1995 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) signed 2024, not ratified MARPOL 73/78 in force 1996 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 0.4% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 0 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 0 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity2024
- 73.8% of adults
- Men
- 63.9%
- Women
- 81.4%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2019
- 0.8% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 31.9 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.1 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.1 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0.1 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 1,513 b/d in 2024Consumption20241,513 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 600active Armed Forces
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription; men and women 16–25 to apply for trainee soldier
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: Tonga - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
