Tonga Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Nuku'alofa

Population

104,519 (2025 est.)

Area

747 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

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

Area — land

717 sq km

Area — 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

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — 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

Elevation — lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

Arable land, fish

Land use — agricultural land

48.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — 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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

104,519 (2025 est.)

Population — male

52,421

Population — female

52,098

Nationality — noun

Tongan(s)

Nationality — 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)

Age structure — 15-64 years

63.2% (male 33,445/female 32,867)

Age structure — 65 years and over

7.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,534/female 4,274)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

57.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

45.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

11.9 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

8.4 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

26.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

25.4 years

Median age — 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)

Urbanization — 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

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.83 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 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.)

Infant mortality rate — male

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

10.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

78 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

76.4 years

Life expectancy at birth — 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.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — 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.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — 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.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

30.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

46.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — 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)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

10.1% (2019)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

2.8% (2019)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.3% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy — total population

91.1% (2019 est.)

Literacy — male

83.8% (2019 est.)

Literacy — female

97.6% (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

18 years (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

16 years (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

19 years (2020 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

International environmental agreements — 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.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

12.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

39.3% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

23.2% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — 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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — 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.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

12.2% (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Kingdom of Tonga

Country name — conventional short form

Tonga

Country name — local long form

Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga

Country name — local short form

Tonga

Country name — former

Friendly Islands

Country name — 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

Capital — geographic coordinates

21 08 S, 175 12 W

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — daylight saving time

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

Capital — 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

Constitution — 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 — 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

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch

Executive branch — election/appointment process

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

Executive branch — most recent election date

15 December 2025

Executive branch — 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

Legislative branch — legislature name

Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

11/20/2025

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

3.8%

Legislative branch — 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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (917) 369-1025

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (917) 369-1024

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Tongaconsnot@gmail.com

Diplomatic representation in the US — 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

Diplomatic representation from the US — 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 corner meaning: 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)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT

National anthem(s) — history

In use since 1874; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$724.972 million (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — 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 — Real GDP growth rate 2022

-2.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — 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 — Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — 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) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

11% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

17.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

13.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

50.2% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

107.6% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

29.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

27.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

-0.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

18.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — 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 — Unemployment rate 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

2.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

6.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

3.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — 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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

22% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

50% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

41.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

42% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$276.025 million (2023 est.)

Budget — 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 — Current account balance 2023

-$30.087 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$27.749 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$119.511 million (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$95.345 million (2023 est.)

Exports — 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 — Imports 2023

$383.475 million (2023 est.)

Imports — 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 — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$396.53 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — 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 — Exchange rates 2024

2.373 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

2.364 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

2.328 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

2.265 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

2.3 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

34,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — 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.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

11,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

64,800 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — 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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2022 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A3

Airports

6 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

29 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

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

Ports — total ports

3 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

0

Ports — very small

3

Ports — ports with oil terminals

0

Ports — key ports

Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 — Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — 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 seas 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)