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.

Area
Total: 747 km²
Land: 717 km²
Water: 30 km²
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

Land use
Agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 39.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

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: 104,889 (2024 est.)
Male: 52,606
Female: 52,283
Distribution: over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Growth rate: -0.34% (2024 est.)

Languages: Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent language use at home of persons aged 5 and older

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: 58.2 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 46.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 25.4 years
Female: 26.4 years

Population growth rate: -0.34% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 19.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 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: 2.65 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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 votes
2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
Note: a Privy Council advises the monarch

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: 11/18/2021
Percentage of women in chamber: 3.8%
Expected date of next election: November 2025

Flag description: red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left corner

National anthem
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)

Real gdp growth rate: 2.1% (2023 est.); -2.3% (2022 est.); 0.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.1% (2023 est.); -2.3% (2022 est.); 0.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Industry: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Services: 50.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: tourism, construction, fishing

Industrial production growth rate: -11.1% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 34,800 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.2% (2024 est.); 2.3% (2023 est.); 2.4% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $276.025 million (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $244.97 million (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $119.511 million (2024 est.); $95.345 million (2023 est.); $59.926 million (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $392.888 million (2024 est.); $383.475 million (2023 est.); $330.306 million (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 64,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 59% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 9,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 6 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 29 (2023)
By type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14