Introduction
Background
The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were highly centralized under the Tu’i Tonga, or Tongan king, by A.D. 950, and by 1200, the Tu’i Tonga had expanded his influence throughout Polynesia and into Melanesia and Micronesia. The Tongan Empire began to decline in the 1300s, with civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife. By the mid-1500s, some Tu’i Tongans were ethnic Samoan, and day-to-day administration of Tonga was transferred to a new position occupied by ethnic Tongans.
Dutch navigators explored the islands in the 1600s, followed by the British in the 1770s, who named them the Friendly Islands. Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder. In 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. During TUPOU's reign (1845–93), Tonga became a unified and independent country with a modern constitution (1875), legal code, and administrative structure. In separate treaties, Germany (1876), Great Britain (1879), and the US (1888) recognized Tonga’s independence. His 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. As a protectorate, Tonga never completely lost its indigenous governance, but it did become more isolated and the social hierarchy became more stratified between a group of nobles and a large class of commoners. Today, about one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for nobles.
Tonga regained full control of domestic and foreign affairs and became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth in 1970. A 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. To 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. The 2010 Legislative Assembly was called Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament. King George TUPOU V died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother Crown Prince Tupouto‘a Lavaka who ruled as George TUPOU VI. In 2015, ‘Akalisi POHIVA became Tonga’s first non-noble prime minister.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references
Oceania
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
419 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain
mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
Elevation
highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use
agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 44.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Natural hazards
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
Geography - note
the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand
People and Society
Population
total: 104,889
male: 52,606
female: 52,283 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 194; male 191; total 191
Nationality
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups
Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)
Languages
Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)
note: data represent language use at home of persons aged 5 and older
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 13.7%, other 2.1%, none 0.6%, no answer 0.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 15,627/female 15,142)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 33,445/female 32,867)
65 years and over: 7.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,534/female 4,274)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 68.6
youth dependency ratio: 58.5
elderly dependency ratio: 10.5
potential support ratio: 9.5 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 25.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.4 years
comparison ranking: total 166
Population distribution
over two-thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Urbanization
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
24.9 years (2012 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 111
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.4 years
female: 79.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 84
Gross reproduction rate
1.3 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
29.3% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.8% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
5.3% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
0.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 169
Tobacco use
total: 31% (2020 est.)
male: 46.7% (2020 est.)
female: 15.3% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 27
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.4%
women married by age 18: 10.1%
men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.4%
female: 99.5% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current 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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Land use
agricultural land: 43.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 44.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 7.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
etymology: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
etymology: composed of the words nuku, meaning "residence or abode," and alofa, meaning "love," to signify "abode of love"
Administrative divisions
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday
Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
Legal system
English common law
Constitution
history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
amendments: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
election results:
2021: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10
2019: Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA (Peoples Party) elected prime minister by parliament receiving 15 of 23 votes cast
note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats statutory, 28 current); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 12, nobles' representatives 9, DPFI 3, TPPI 3; composition - men 26, women 2, percentage women 7.1%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch's advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers
judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts
Political parties
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA
Tonga People's Party (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) or PAK or TPPI
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
email address and website:
[email protected]
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Tonga as well as Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
embassy: although the US opened an embassy in Tonga on 9 May 2023, the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga while the Embassy is being staffed
Flag description
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga, red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice, and white signifies purity
National symbol(s)
red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
National anthem
name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$700.437 million (2022 est.)
$714.816 million (2021 est.)
$734.406 million (2020 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 211
Real GDP growth rate
-2.01% (2022 est.)
-2.67% (2021 est.)
0.49% (2020 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 206
Real GDP per capita
$6,600 (2022 est.)
$6,700 (2021 est.)
$7,000 (2020 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 162
GDP (official exchange rate)
$500.275 million (2022 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.35% (2023 est.)
10.97% (2022 est.)
5.64% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 135
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 129; industry 145; agriculture 49
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 99.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 21.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -68.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate
1.23% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 134
Labor force
38,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 196
Unemployment rate
2.3% (2023 est.)
2.35% (2022 est.)
2.11% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 26
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.7% (2023 est.)
male: 4.4% (2023 est.)
female: 10.5% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 163
Population below poverty line
20.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
27.1 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 141
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 22% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
45.03% of GDP (2022 est.)
46.95% of GDP (2021 est.)
38.26% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $212 million (2019 est.)
expenditures: $196 million (2019 est.)
Public debt
45.02% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 99
Current account balance
-$28.84 million (2022 est.)
-$33.414 million (2021 est.)
-$36.294 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 88
Exports
$59.926 million (2022 est.)
$57.534 million (2021 est.)
$99.78 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 213
Exports - partners
US 31%, Australia 19%, NZ 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Belgium 8% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
fish, scrap copper, processed crustaceans, vegetables, perfume plants (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$332.743 million (2022 est.)
$299.094 million (2021 est.)
$314.803 million (2020 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 207
Imports - partners
Fiji 28%, China 23%, NZ 21%, Australia 6%, US 5% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, sheep and goat meat, cars (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$396.53 million (2023 est.)
$375.564 million (2022 est.)
$361.812 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 177
Debt - external
$189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 190
Exchange rates
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
2.364 (2023 est.)
2.328 (2022 est.)
2.265 (2021 est.)
2.3 (2020 est.)
2.289 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 33,000 kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 69.136 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 6 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 11; consumption 202; installed generating capacity 201
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 86.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 900 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
131,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 131,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 208
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 187
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 64,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 203
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Tonga was only connected to the global submarine telecommunication network in the last decade; though this system is more stable than other technologies such as satellite and fixed infrastructure; the January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai severed Tonga’s connection to the submarine telecommunication network (2023)
domestic: fixed-line 10 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 61 telephones per 100 (2021)
international: country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020)
Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)
Internet users
total: 73,700 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 67% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 194
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 188
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Merchant marine
total: 29 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14
comparison ranking: total 136
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai
Military and Security
Military and security forces
His Majesty's Armed Forces Tonga (aka Tonga Defense Services): Tonga Royal Guard, Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Air Wing
Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2024)
Military expenditures
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 82
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 personnel (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes light weapons, as well as some naval vessels from Australia and a few aircraft from the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
voluntary military service for men and women 18-25; no conscription (2023)
Military - note
the HMAF’s primary missions are protecting the King and Tonga’s sovereignty; it is also responsible for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue operations, monitoring against illegal fishing, and delivering supplies to the outer islands; the HMAF has contributed limited numbers of personnel to multinational military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands; it is a small force comprised of royal guards, marines, a few naval patrol boats, and a couple of aircraft for maritime patrolling, search and rescue, and training purposes
Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014
Tonga has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tonga's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2024)