Tonga

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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.

Land

717 sq km

Total

747 sq km

Water

30 sq km

four times the size of Washington, D.C.

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

419 km

Oceania

Highest point

Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

20 00 S, 175 00 W

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

0 sq km (2022)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

48.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)

arable land

27.78%

Forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

Other

39.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

15.28%

No

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/p5YALBY2QdEzswRo7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2186665

Oceania

Continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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

arable land, fish

over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied

Polynesia

mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock

UTC+13:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

19.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

2.8% (2019)

Women married by age 15

0.4% (2019)

Women married by age 18

10.1% (2019)

0.8% (2019 est.)

50.7% (2021 est.)

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

112 per 1,000

adult male

213 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

11.9 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

8.4 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

57.2 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

45.2 (2025 est.)

improved total

29.6%

Improved: rural

rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.3% national budget (2024 est.)

5 % of GDP

Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)

1.28 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Female

10.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)

languages

English, Tongan

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent language use at home of persons aged 5 and older

number of languages

2

Female

79.7 years

Male

76.4 years

Total population

78 years (2024 est.)

Female

97.6% (2019 est.)

Male

83.8% (2019 est.)

Total population

91.1% (2019 est.)

23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)

67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

26.4 years

Male

25.4 years

Total

26.4 years (2025 est.)

24.9 years (2012 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Tongan

Noun

Tongan(s)

-18.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

48.2% (2016)

1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Female

52,098

Male

52,421

Total

104,519 (2025 est.)

-0.37% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

31.25%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Female

19 years (2020 est.)

Male

16 years (2020 est.)

Total

18 years (2020 est.)

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

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

15.8% (2025 est.)

Male

46.1% (2025 est.)

Total

30.5% (2025 est.)

2.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

23.2% of total population (2023)

measles

99%

5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

Etymology

name is said to be composed of the local words <em>nuku</em>, meaning "residence or abode," and <em>alofa</em>, meaning "love;" it may also mean "the south," describing Tonga's position in relation to most other Polynesian islands

Geographic coordinates

21 08 S, 175 12 W

Name

Nuku'alofa

Time difference

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/to.svg

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

History

adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016

alternative spellings

TO

Conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

Conventional short form

Tonga

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

FIFA code

TGA

Former

Friendly Islands

Local long form

Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga

local long form (eng)

Kingdom of Tonga

Local short form

Tonga

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

Chancery

250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022

Chief of mission

Ambassador Viliana Va&rsquo;inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)

Consulate(s) general

San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>tongaconsnot@gmail.com

FAX

[1] (917) 369-1024

Telephone

[1] (917) 369-1025

Cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

Chief of state

King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)

Election results

<em>2025:  </em>Fatafehi FAKAFANUA elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (Independent) 16 votes, Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 10 votes<br><em><br>2024: </em>Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8<em><br></em>

Election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch

Head of government

Prime Minister Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)

Most recent election date

15 December 2025

Note

<strong>note:</strong> a Privy Council advises the monarch

<strong>description:</strong> red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left corner<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ's blood and sacrifice, and white for purity

The flag of Tonga has a red field. A white rectangle bearing a red Greek cross is superimposed in the canton.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/to.svg

constitutional monarchy

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)

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

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Subordinate courts

Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts

English common law

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

November 2025

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

Most recent election date

11/20/2025

Number of seats

30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)

Percentage of women in chamber

3.8%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, white

Official birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)

note

<strong>note:</strong> the monarch's actual birthday is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

red cross on white field

Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA <br>Tonga People's Party (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) or PAK or TPPI

Monday

21 years of age; universal

Yes

coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$244.97 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$276.025 million (2023 est.)

code

TOP

name

Tongan paʻanga (TOP) [T$]

$-43,515,752

Current account balance 2022

-$27.749 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$30.087 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$21.165 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$173.18 million

Debt - external 2023

$159.276 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

2.3 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

2.265 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

2.328 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

2.364 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

2.373 (2024 est.)

$87.16 million

Exports 2022

$59.926 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$95.345 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$119.511 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Guyana 17%, USA 17%, NZ 15%, Australia 15%, UAE 12% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-12,079,633

Exports of goods and services

18.8% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

29.1% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

107.6% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-75.4% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

27.3% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.3% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

17.5% (2023 est.)

Industry

13.5% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

50.2% (2023 est.)

$508.735 million (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$5,652

37.6 (2015)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

27.1 (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$636.67 million

$5,910

26 % of GDP

Highest 10%

22% (2021 est.)

Lowest 10%

4% (2021 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$383.53 million

Imports 2022

$330.306 million (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$383.475 million (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$392.888 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Fiji 27%, NZ 24%, China 21%, Australia 8%, USA 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-11.1% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

tourism, construction, fishing

3.18%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

34,800 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

33,628 persons

agriculture

23.61%

industry

23.34%

services

53.05%

20.6% (2021 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2020

43.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

$816.14 million

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$742.114 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$724.972 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$740.082 million (2023 est.)

2.79%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

0.4% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-2.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.1% (2023 est.)

$7,803

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$7,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$7,100 (2023 est.)

$253.8 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

42% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

41.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

50% of GDP (2023 est.)

$377.3 million

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$375.564 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$396.53 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$377.299 million (2024 est.)

23 % of GDP

20 % of GDP

23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

2.01%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

2.4% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Female

10% (2024 est.)

Male

3.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

6.3% (2024 est.)

Consumption

67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

34,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

14.2%

Solar

9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

2.3%

per 100 inhabitants

8 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2022 est.)

Total

9,000 (2022 est.)

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)

.to

Percent of population

59% (2023 est.)

+676

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

11,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

62 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

62 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

64,800 (2022 est.)

6 (2025)

A3

Left

By type

container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14

Total

29 (2023)

Key ports

Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

0

Small

0

Total ports

3 (2024)

Very small

3

TO

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 <br><br>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<br><br>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)

His Majesty's Armed Forces Tonga (HMAF; aka Tonga Defense Services): Tonga Royal Guard, Tonga Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Air Wing <br><br>Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2025)

approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)

the military's inventory consists of light weapons, as well as some naval patrol vessels acquired from Australia (2025)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

16-25 years of age for men and women to apply for trainee soldier; no conscription (2025)

From petroleum and other liquids

174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

0 % of total land area

14 % of total

Municipal solid waste generated annually

17,200 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12.2% (2022 est.)