THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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
Area: total: 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, D.C.
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: 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.)
forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
other: 39.3% (2023 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 had frequent activity in recent years, and Niuafo'ou (260 m) 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

Population: total: 104,519 (2025 est.)
male: 52,421
female: 52,098
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.)
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: 57.2 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 45.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 26.4 years (2025 est.)
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -18.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.4 years
female: 79.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.28 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 30.5% (2025 est.)
male: 46.1% (2025 est.)
female: 15.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.7% (2021 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 10.1% (2019)
men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy: total population: 91.1% (2019 est.)
male: 83.8% (2019 est.)
female: 97.6% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years (2020 est.)
male: 16 years (2020 est.)
female: 19 years (2020 est.)

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
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
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: 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.)
forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
other: 39.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,200 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.2% (2022 est.)

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: 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 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: 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
Administrative divisions: 5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Legal system: English common law
Constitution: history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
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
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 Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch
most recent election date: 15 December 2025
election results: 2025: Fatafehi FAKAFANUA elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (Independent) 16 votes, Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 10 votes2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
Legislative branch: legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/20/2025
percentage of women in chamber: 3.8%
expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch: 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
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
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: tongaconsnot@gmail.com
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
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
Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday: Official birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)
Flag: description: red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left cornermeaning: the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ's blood and sacrifice, and white for purity
National symbol(s): red cross on white field
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s): title: "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
history: in use since 1874; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

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): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $740.082 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $724.972 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $742.114 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: -2.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021: 0.4% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023: $7,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021: $7,000 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $508.735 million (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
industry: 13.5% (2023 est.)
services: 50.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 107.6% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 29.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -75.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023)
Industries: tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: -11.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 34,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 6.3% (2024 est.)
male: 3.9% (2024 est.)
female: 10% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 27.1 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 22% (2021 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 50% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 41.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 42% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $276.025 million (2023 est.)
expenditures: $244.97 million (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2020: 43.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$21.165 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$30.087 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$27.749 million (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $119.511 million (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $95.345 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $59.926 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Guyana 17%, USA 17%, NZ 15%, Australia 15%, UAE 12% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $392.888 million (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $383.475 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $330.306 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Fiji 27%, NZ 24%, China 21%, Australia 8%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $377.299 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $396.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $375.564 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $159.276 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 2.373 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 2.364 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 2.328 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 2.265 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 2.3 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 34,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 64,800 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)
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)
Internet country code: .to
Internet users: percent of population: 59% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 9,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A3
Airports: 6 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 29 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14
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 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 expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)
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 service age and obligation: 16-25 years of age for men and women to apply for trainee soldier; no conscription (2025)
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 seasTonga 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)

Tonga