Tonga

Introduction

Background
The Tongan Empire lasted from about 950 to the 1300s. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875, and a British protectorate in 1900. It withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Geography

Area
total : 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km

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

Natural resources
arable land, fish

People and Society

Population
total: 104,889 (2024 est.)

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.)

Population growth rate
-0.34% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
constitutional monarchy

Capital
name: Nuku'alofa

Executive branch
chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Aisake Valu EKE (since 22 January 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)

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

Economy

Economic overview
upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$740.082 million (2023 est.)
$724.972 million (2022 est.)
$742.114 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$7,100 (2023 est.)
$6,900 (2022 est.)
$7,000 (2021 est.)

Exports
$119.511 million (2024 est.)
$95.345 million (2023 est.)
$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
$392.888 million (2024 est.)
$383.475 million (2023 est.)
$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)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.769, ranking it 92nd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)