Tonga

text

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.

text

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

text

20 00 S, 175 00 W

text

Oceania

text

four times the size of Washington, D.C.

text

419 km

text

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

text

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

text

arable land, fish

text

0 sq km (2022)

text

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

text

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

text

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

text

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

text

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

note

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

text

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.)

text

-0.37% (2025 est.)

text

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

text

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

text

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

text

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

text

23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)

text

24.9 years (2012 est.)

note

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

text

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

text

2.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)

text

1.28 (2025 est.)

text

1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

text

48.2% (2016)

text

0.8% (2019 est.)

text

50.7% (2021 est.)

text

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

text

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

text

7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

text

constitutional monarchy

text

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

text

English common law

text

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

text

21 years of age; universal

note

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

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

text

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

text

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

text

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)

text

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)

text

<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

text

red cross on white field

text

red, white

text

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

note

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

note

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

note

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

text

$508.735 million (2023 est.)

note

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

note

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

note

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

note

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

text

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

text

tourism, construction, fishing

text

-11.1% (2023 est.)

note

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

text

34,800 (2024 est.)

note

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

note

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

note

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

text

20.6% (2021 est.)

note

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

note

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

note

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

note

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

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

note

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

text

23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

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

note

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

note

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

text

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

text

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

note

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

note

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

text

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

text

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

note

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

note

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

note

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

text

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)

text

.to

text

A3

text

6 (2025)

text

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)

text

approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)

text

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

text

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

text

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)