Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
8 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
9,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia available via satellite (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.to
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
67.44% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
11,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
62 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
64,800 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$244.97 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$276.025 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$42.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$27.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$47.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$34.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$35.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$35.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$39.3 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$33.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$49.6 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$27.749 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$30.087 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$21.165 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$209.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$159.276 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
2.3730 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.7737 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1.8468 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
2.1058 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
2.2157 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
2.2060 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
2.2366 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
2.2895 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
2.2996 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
2.2650 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2.3279 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
2.3637 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
2.3730 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$67.3 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$74.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$74.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$103.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$102.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$104.7 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$112.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$99.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$57.5 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$59.926 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$95.345 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$119.511 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
18.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
29.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
107.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-75.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
27.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
17.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
13.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
50.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$7,803 (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$508.735 million (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$816.1 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
33.5 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
27.1 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
22% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$213.9 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$281.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$266.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$303.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$320.3 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$333.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$314.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$298.4 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$330.306 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$383.475 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$392.888 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-11.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-1.05% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.58% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
7.52% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
5.03% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.18% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.35% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.64% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.97% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.35% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.23% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
34,800 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
20.60% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
48.91% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
47.36% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
49.38% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
45.62% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
48.24% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
43.05% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
43.08% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$568.9 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$580.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$624.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$656.3 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$684.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$705.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$742.114 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$724.972 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$740.082 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.11% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.60% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.20% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
0.53% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-0.29% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
1.81% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
0.4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
-2.13% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$5,336 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$5,472 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$5,920 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$6,229 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$6,473 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$6,676 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$6,929 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$7,296 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$7,803 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$122.7 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$119.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$129.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$190.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
42% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
41.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
50% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$253.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$156.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$176.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$198.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$215.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$218.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$298.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$361.8 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$375.564 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$396.53 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$377.299 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.17% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
2.71% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
2.11% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.00% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
1.65% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
1.97% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
6.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
34,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
48.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
12.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
39.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
21.15% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
17,200 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
12.2% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
717 sq km
Geography: Area: water
30 sq km
Geography: Coastline
419 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
48.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
12.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
39.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Oceania
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has had frequent activity in recent years, and Niuafo'ou (260 m) has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
Geography: Population distribution
over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
Government: Administrative divisions
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
Government: Capital: etymology
name is said to be composed of the local words nuku , meaning "residence or abode," and alofa , meaning "love;" it may also mean "the south," describing Tonga's position in relation to most other Polynesian islands
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
21 08 S, 175 12 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: 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
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Tonga
Government: Country 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
Government: Country name: former
Friendly Islands
Government: Country name: local long form
Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
Government: Country name: local short form
Tonga
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
tongaconsnot@gmail.com
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (917) 369-1024
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (917) 369-1025
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Fatafehi FAKAFANUA elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (Independent) 16 votes, Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 10 votes 2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
15 December 2025
Government: Flag
description: red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left corner meaning: the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ's blood and sacrifice, and white for purity
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts
Government: Legal system
English common law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
November 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/20/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
3.8%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
in use since 1874; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
Government: National color(s)
red, white
Government: National holiday
Official birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)
Government: National symbol(s)
red cross on white field
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military's primary missions are defending Tonga's sovereignty, providing maritime security, and protecting the King; 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 military has contributed limited numbers of personnel to multinational military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands; Australia, New Zealand, and the US are key partners 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 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) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
His Majesty's Armed Forces Tonga (HMAF; aka Tonga Defense Services): Tonga Royal Guard, Tonga Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Air Wing Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists of light weapons, as well as some naval patrol vessels acquired from Australia (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
16-25 years of age for men and women to apply for trainee soldier; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
29.3% (male 15,627/female 15,142)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63.2% (male 33,445/female 32,867)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
7.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,534/female 4,274)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
19.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.8% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
0.4% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
10.1% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.36% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.7% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
8.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
57.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
45.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.3% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.31% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.28 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.5 beds/1,000 population (2010 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
76.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
69.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
97.6% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
83.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.48% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
26.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
25.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
24.9 years (2012 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Tongan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-18.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
48.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
People and Society: Population
104,175 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.40% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
52,098
People and Society: Population: male
52,421
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
19 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
16 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
18 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.83 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
15.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
46.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
30.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.10 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
21.15% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
6 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A3
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
29 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.