Introduction
Background
The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were probably 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, descending into civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife that saw successive leaders assassinated. 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 sailors explored the islands in the 1600s and British Captain James COOK visited Tonga three times in the 1770s, naming them the Friendly Islands for the positive reception he thought he received, even though the Tongans he encountered were plotting ways to kill him. In 1799, Tonga fell into a new round of civil wars over succession. Wesleyan missionaries arrived in 1822, quickly converting the population. In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and won the support of the missionaries by declaring that he would dedicate Tonga to God. The chief soon made alliances with leaders on most of the other islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy. TUPOU I declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and his 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.
Queen Salote TUPOU III negotiated the end of the protectorate in 1965, which was achieved under King TUPOU IV, who in 1970 withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. A prodemocracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by future Prime Minister ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on prodemocracy legislation. 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; he died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother ‘Aho’eitu TUPOU VI. Tropical Cyclone Gita, the strongest-ever recorded storm to impact Tonga, hit the islands in February 2018 causing extensive damage.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
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
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: 43.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 44.4% (2018 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 shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo'ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, 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
Nationality
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups
Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified <0.1% (2016 est.)
Languages
Tongan and English 76.8%, Tongan, English, and other language 10.6%, Tongan only (official) 8.7%, English only (official) 0.7%, other 1.7%, none 2.2% (2016 est.)
note: data represent persons aged 5 and older who can read and write a simple sentence in Tongan, English, or another language
Religions
Protestant 64.1% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 35%, Free Church of Tonga 11.9%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 1.6%, other 4.3%), Church of Jesus Christ 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2%, other 2.4%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2016 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 29.92% (male 15,989/female 15,491)
15-64 years: 62.79% (male 33,330/female 32,741)
65 years and over: 7.29% (2023 est.) (male 3,453/female 4,217)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 68.6
youth dependency ratio: 58.5
elderly dependency ratio: 10.5
potential support ratio: 9.5 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.5 years (2020 est.)
Net migration rate
-18.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228Population 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
24.9 years (2012 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
126 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61Infant mortality rate
total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.78 years
male: 76.14 years
female: 79.47 years (2023 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.33 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
29.3% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.8% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
5.3% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
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: 31% (2020 est.)
male: 46.7% (2020 est.)
female: 15.3% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.4%
women married by age 18: 10.1%
men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.4%
female: 99.5% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 11.1%
male: 7.5%
female: 16.3% (2021 est.)
Environment
Environment - current 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
Environment - international 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: 43.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 44.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
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: "tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia
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: composed of the words nuku, meaning "residence or abode," and alofa, meaning "love," to signify "abode of love"
Administrative divisions
5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday
Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
Constitution
history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
amendments: 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; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013
Legal system
English common law
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); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI
head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10
note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats statutory, 27 current); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party (elected members) - independents 11, nobles' representatives 9, Democratic Party 3, Peoples Party 3; composition - men 26, women 1, percent of women 3.7%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch); note - 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
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 and leaders
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA [Semisi SIKA]
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]
Tonga Democratic Labor Party [vacant]
Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or HRDM ['Uliti UATA]
Tonga People's Party or PAK or TPPI (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) [Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA] (split from Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Viliami 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:
tongaunmission@aol.com
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag description
red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga, red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice, and white signifies purity
National symbol(s)
red cross on white field, arms equal length; national colors: red, white
National anthem
name: "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
note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)
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)
$651.247 million (2021 est.)
$669.095 million (2020 est.)
$665.842 million (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
-2.67% (2021 est.)
0.49% (2020 est.)
0.71% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$6,100 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$6,400 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$6,300 (2019 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$455 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.64% (2021 est.)
-0.35% (2020 est.)
1.18% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 19.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 20.3% (2017 est.)
services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 99.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 21.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -68.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, gourds, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, roots/tubers nes, plantains, lemons/limes
Industries
tourism, construction, fishing
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 2,006% (2006 est.)
industry: 27.5% (2006 est.)
services: 2,006% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
3.97% (2021 est.)
3.63% (2020 est.)
3.06% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 11.1%
male: 7.5%
female: 16.3% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line
22.5% (2010 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
37.6 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: $212 million (2019 est.)
expenditures: $196 million (2019 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Current account balance
-$19.188 million (2021 est.)
-$25.78 million (2020 est.)
-$4.214 million (2019 est.)
Exports
$58.745 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$99.78 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$112.482 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners
United States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%, (2019)
Exports - commodities
squash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019)
Imports
$285.675 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$309.685 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$327.395 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners
Fiji 29%, New Zealand 23%, China 14%, United States 8%, Australia 6%, Japan 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, poultry meats, audio equipment, mutton, goat meat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$361.812 million (31 December 2021 est.)
$298.948 million (31 December 2020 est.)
$218.448 million (31 December 2019 est.)
Debt - external
$189.9 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$198.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
2.265 (2021 est.)
2.3 (2020 est.)
2.289 (2019 est.)
2.237 (2018 est.)
2.206 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 98.9% (2018)
electrification - urban areas: 98.9% (2018)
electrification - rural areas: 98.9% (2018)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 26,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 54.448 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.9 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
171,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 171,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
22.841 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 64,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Tonga was only connected to the global submarine telecommunication network in the last decade; this system is more stable than other technologies such as satellite and fixed infrastructure (2022)
domestic: fixed-line 10 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 61 telephones per 100 (2021)
international: country code - 676; landing point for the Tonga Cable and the TDCE connecting to Fiji and 3 separate Tonga islands; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2020)
Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services are available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite (2019)
Internet users
total: 73,700 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 67% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1
Airports - with paved runways
1
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
5
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Roadways
total: 680 km (2011)
paved: 184 km (2011)
unpaved: 496 km (2011)
Merchant marine
total: 32
by type: container ship 4, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14 (2022)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Military and Security
Military and security forces
His Majesty's Armed Forces Tonga (aka Tonga Defense Services): Joint Force headquarters, Tonga Royal Guard, Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Training Wing, Air Wing, and Support Unit; Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2023)
Military expenditures
2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 650 personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Tonga military's inventory includes mostly light weapons and equipment from Australia, European countries (primarily the UK), and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation
voluntary military service for men and women 18-25 (16 with parental approval for non-combat positions); no conscription (2022)
Military - note
the HMAF’s primary missions are protecting the King and Tonga’s sovereignty; the HMAF has also contributed small numbers of personnel to multinational military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands; it is a small force comprised of a royal guard company, a marine battalion, and a few naval patrol boats
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); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014
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; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Tonga-Fiji: Fiji does not recognize Tonga’s 1972 claim to the Minerva Reefs and their surrounding waters; the Minerva Reefs’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone includes valuable fishing grounds
Trafficking in persons
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Tonga does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; these efforts included providing funding to an NGO to assist trafficking victims; however, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared to the previous year to expand its anti-trafficking capacity; officials did not identify any victims, develop procedures to do so, or investigate any cases of trafficking; therefore, Tonga remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year (2022)
trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Tonga, as well as Tongans abroad; East Asian women, especially from China, are recruited for legitimate work but charged excessive recruitment fees and are vulnerable to sex trafficking; some Tongan women and children are vulnerable to forced labor in domestic work, and children are vulnerable to sex trafficking; Fijians working in Tonga’s domestic service industry may experience mistreatment indicative of trafficking; Chinese nationals working in construction on government infrastructure projects in Tonga are vulnerable to trafficking; Tongan adults working overseas, including in Australia and New Zealand, are vulnerable to labor trafficking (2022)