Independent rankings built from public data — every figure traceable to the body that published it.

Photo: Haanofonua derivative work: Massimo Telò · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Tonga places highest on Short-Term Share of External Debt (top 2% worldwide) and lowest on Climate Vulnerability (ND-GAIN) (bottom 7%).
Population
104,597
people
since 1950
Land area
720
km²
since 1961
GDP per person
7,413
international $, PPP
since 1990
Life expectancy
72.89
years at birth
since 1950
Human development
0.769
HDI, 0–1
since 1990
Unemployment
2.008
% of the labour force
since 1991
The newest published figure for each, the year it describes and who published it, with a line showing how it has moved.
01The country
As Wikidata records them. Official languages are the least consistent — some countries list only a national language, others every regional one. Sources and licences.
02Country Index 2026
Strongest first. Each position is Tonga’s place among the countries with a standing on that topic, built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things.
14thof 159
From 2 of 2 key statistics
21stof 171
From 2 of 4 key statistics
43rdof 198
From 2 of 3 key statistics
67thof 200
From 3 of 4 key statistics
joint93rdof 181
From 2 of 3 key statistics
99thof 183
From 2 of 4 key statistics
joint103rdof 182
From 4 of 4 key statistics
115thof 196
From 3 of 3 key statistics
118thof 192
From 3 of 3 key statistics
124thof 194
From 2 of 4 key statistics
112thof 175
From 2 of 4 key statistics
140thof 193
From 2 of 3 key statistics
158thof 198
From 3 of 3 key statistics
146thof 176
From 2 of 4 key statistics
No standing — Tonga holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
No standing — Tonga holds too few of this subject’s key statistics to be placed on it.
Each standing is built from a few key statistics chosen to measure different things. Select a subject for Tonga’s readings on it, or see every statistic held for Tonga in the table further down this page.
03Highs and lows
The two ends of its own record: every statistic on which Tonga sits within ten places of the best or worst in the world, plus its strongest and weakest readings overall. Each is turned into a percentile — its place among every country measured — which is what lets a hunger score and a press-freedom rank be compared at all.
In the top third of all countries measured. 2 are within ten places of the best in the world, in a field of at least 50 countries — marked with that place.
Position · derived 59th of 59 · 1 = worst · 0 · 2025
world median 0
Position · derived 6th of 184 · 0.998 · 2023
world median 0.971 (better) · ▲ 27 pts since 2013
Not ranked by the publisher · 0 · 2024
world median 9.376 (better)
Position · derived 16th of 211 · 1.314 · 2025
world median 0.171 (better) · ▲ 15 pts since 2015
Position · derived 149th of 162 · 1 = worst · 2.177 · 2024
world median 13.8 (better)
Position · derived 166th of 182 · 1 = worst · 2.008 · 2025
world median 5.084 (better)
In the bottom third of all countries measured.
Rank 176th of 190 · 0.595 · 2024
world median 0.45 (worse) · ▲ 2 pts since 2014
Position · derived 15th of 174 · 1 = worst · 14 · 2025
world median 4.456 (worse)
Position · derived 107th of 118 · -3.347 · 2021
world median 8.389 (worse) · ▼ 50 pts since 2011
Not ranked by the publisher · 5.367 · 2024
world median 2.738 (worse)
Position · derived 158th of 182 · 49.81 · 2025
world median 61.66 (worse) · ▼ 10 pts since 2015
A band is a place among the countries each publisher scores, so Tonga can move because other countries moved. See the Country Index for the full method.
04Over time
The published rank in widely quoted reports, edition by edition — each end with the size of that year’s field — and the statistics, not already named above, on which it has gained or lost the most ground.
UNDP Human Development Report Office
69th
of 141 · 1990
92nd
of 193 · 2023
Ranked in 34 of 34 editions
UNDP Human Development Report Office
79th
of 79 · 1990
115th
of 172 · 2023
Ranked in 34 of 34 editions
Oxford Insights
115th
of 172 · 2020
156th
of 195 · 2025
Ranked in 5 of 6 editions
Where Tonga has climbed against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
Where Tonga has slipped against the rest of the world, in percentile points.
05In context
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place in the world ranking of 178, not within the region.
Tonga has no land border with another country.
Every country in the sub-region, by its position in the world (of 178 placed).
06The evidence
Grouped by topic. Each row gives the newest edition’s rank or position, the published value and the year the numbers describe — select a row for the world median, the best in the world and the trend.
bottom 25% of 132 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size)
Tonga 0.17 · world median 0.305 (worse)
Best in the world 5.38 (Singapore)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2014
bottom 41% of 191 countries measured
Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence)
Tonga 0.554 · world median 0.608
Highest 0.974 (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
▲ +18 percentile points since 2013
top 21% of 198 countries measured
CIVICUS · Civic space score (0–100)
Tonga 80.03 · world median 50.46 (better)
Best in the world 100 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 37% of 192 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready)
Tonga 0.353 · world median 0.387 (worse)
Best in the world 0.749 (Singapore)
▼ -20 percentile points since 2014
bottom 47% of 185 countries measured
UNICEF · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%)
Tonga 97.7 · world median 98.4 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (53 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 39% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5)
Tonga -0.417 · world median -0.197 (worse)
Best in the world 2.259 (Denmark)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
top 27% of 78 countries measured
World Bank Group · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high)
Tonga 3.483 · world median 3.246 (better)
Best in the world 4.225 (Rwanda)
No real change since 2015
bottom 24% of 109 countries measured
World Bank Group · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income)
Tonga 22.82 · world median 12.93 (worse)
Best in the world 0.285 (Iran)
▼ -36 percentile points since 2014
bottom 20% of 195 countries measured
Oxford Insights · AI readiness score (0–100)
Tonga 23.11 · world median 40.19 (worse)
Best in the world 88.36 (United States)
▼ -13 percentile points since 2020
bottom 45% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Tonga -0.059 · world median 0.101 (worse)
Best in the world 2.092 (Singapore)
No real change since 2015
bottom 23% of 196 countries measured
World Bank Group · GTMI score (0–1)
Tonga 0.343 · world median 0.63 (worse)
Best in the world 0.997 (South Korea)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2022
top 7% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP)
Tonga 14.62 · world median 7.975
Highest 42.65 (Nauru)
▲ +13 percentile points since 2012
bottom 43% of 209 countries measured
World Bank Group · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5)
Tonga -0.255 · world median -0.093 (worse)
Best in the world 2.113 (Singapore)
No real change since 2015
top 23% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Tonga 0.774 · world median -0.102 (better)
Best in the world 2.012 (Finland)
▲ +18 percentile points since 2015
bottom 35% of 188 countries measured
World Bank Group · SPI overall score (0–100)
Tonga 63.2 · world median 69.3 (worse)
Best in the world 94.14 (Norway)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2020
top 25% of 206 countries measured
World Bank Group · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Tonga 0.806 · world median -0.022 (better)
Best in the world 1.825 (Norway)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2015
bottom 14% of 190 countries measured
World Bank Group · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Tonga 58.75 · world median 81.25 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (14 countries tied)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2014
bottom 9% of 118 countries measured
World Bank Group · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI)
Tonga -3.347 · world median 8.389 (worse)
Best in the world 32.18 (Bangladesh)
▼ -50 percentile points since 2011
bottom 26% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Tonga 97.18 · world median 106.23 (worse)
Best in the world 189.93 (Senegal)
▼ -71 percentile points since 2012
bottom 27% of 170 countries measured
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports)
Tonga 12.45 · world median 25.42 (worse)
Best in the world 87.15 (Ireland)
▲ +8 percentile points since 2014
bottom 14% of 179 countries measured
World Bank Group · Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Tonga 12.82 · world median 35.95 (worse)
Best in the world 88.52 (Israel)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 21% of 195 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Tonga 97.78 · world median 106.08 (worse)
Best in the world 177.49 (Senegal)
▼ -78 percentile points since 2012
bottom 2% of 202 countries measured
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · FDI inflows (% of GDP)
Tonga -2.986 · world median 1.968
Highest 2,221 (British Virgin Islands)
▼ -31 percentile points since 2015
bottom 40% of 186 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP growth (annual %)
Tonga 2.8 · world median 3.396 (worse)
Best in the world 19.34 (Guyana)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2015
bottom 28% of 185 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Tonga 7,413 · world median 17,265 (worse)
Best in the world 139,593 (Singapore)
No real change since 2015
bottom 34% of 146 countries measured
World Bank Group · Gross savings (% of GDP)
Tonga 18.54 · world median 22.06
Highest 47.82 (Macau)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2014
top 37% of 118 countries measured
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · ICT services exports (% of services exports)
Tonga 10.17 · world median 7.474 (better)
Best in the world 56.25 (Ireland)
▲ +45 percentile points since 2014
bottom 34% of 167 countries measured · 167 share 175 positions
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Tonga 28.14 · world median 56.21 (worse)
Best in the world 1,319 (China)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2016
bottom 32% of 194 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100)
Tonga 100.86 · world median 107.06 (worse)
Best in the world 190.08 (Malawi)
▼ -53 percentile points since 2012
top 35% of 143 countries measured
World Bank Group · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%)
Tonga 6.44 · world median 3.66
Highest 29.52 (Bermuda)
▲ +9 percentile points since 2012
bottom 19% of 197 countries measured · 197 share 180 positions
World Bank Group · Natural resources rents (% of GDP)
Tonga 0.041 · world median 1.708
Highest 61.03 (Libya)
No real change since 2011
bottom 8% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person
Tonga 30.74 · world median 38.89
Highest 54.7 (Bhutan)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2015
top 40% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
Tonga 23.61 · world median 14.38
Highest 85.34 (Burundi)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2015
top 28% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in industry (% of total employment)
Tonga 23.34 · world median 18.88
Highest 39.44 (Oman)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2015
bottom 40% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employment in services (% of total employment)
Tonga 53.05 · world median 59.51
Highest 92.17 (Djibouti)
▲ +16 percentile points since 2015
bottom 19% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Tonga 48.81 · world median 57.72 (worse)
Best in the world 86.9 (Qatar)
▼ -18 percentile points since 2015
bottom 23% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Tonga 42.35 · world median 53.36 (worse)
Best in the world 82.91 (Madagascar)
No real change since 2015
top 13% of 179 countries measured
World Bank Group · Firms with a female top manager (%)
Tonga 30.18 · world median 19.16 (better)
Best in the world 62.9 (Kiribati)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 30% of 168 countries measured
World Bank Group · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $)
Tonga 23,337 · world median 47,384 (worse)
Best in the world 262,554 (Luxembourg)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2015
bottom 42% of 97 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Informal employment (% of total employment)
Tonga 52.86 · world median 36.83 (worse)
Best in the world 0.857 (Hungary)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 13% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%)
Tonga 49.81 · world median 61.66 (worse)
Best in the world 87.01 (Qatar)
▼ -10 percentile points since 2015
bottom 36% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP)
Tonga 14.73 · world median 22.16 (worse)
Best in the world 164.65 (Ireland)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
top 39% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Self-employed (% of total employment)
Tonga 41.79 · world median 31.84
Highest 91.56 (Chad)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2015
top 9% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment (% of labour force)
Tonga 2.008 · world median 5.084 (better)
Best in the world 0.13 (Qatar)
No real change since 2015
bottom 43% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Tonga 33.7 · world median 28.67 (worse)
Best in the world 0.456 (Qatar)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
top 18% of 182 countries measured
International Labour Organization (ILO) · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force)
Tonga 6.029 · world median 12.83 (better)
Best in the world 0.457 (Niger)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2015
top 11% of 172 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%)
Tonga 99.48 · world median 93.99 (better)
Best in the world 100 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
top 9% of 195 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Expected years of schooling
Tonga 17.79 · world median 13.34 (better)
Best in the world 21.69 (Monaco)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2013
bottom 31% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment)
Tonga 385.96 · world median 414.32 (worse)
Best in the world 575.27 (Singapore)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2017
bottom 42% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14)
Tonga 7.14 · world median 7.941 (worse)
Best in the world 12.81 (Singapore)
▲ +5 percentile points since 2017
top 36% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+)
Tonga 10.91 · world median 9.933 (better)
Best in the world 14.3 (Germany)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2013
top 12% of 117 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home)
Tonga 26.53 · world median 5.279
Highest 1,724 (Cook Islands)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2020
bottom 29% of 120 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%)
Tonga 41.61 · world median 65.93 (worse)
Best in the world 99.85 (Moldova)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2020
top 45% of 165 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Primary completion rate (%)
Tonga 98.42 · world median 97.43 (better)
Best in the world 100 (5 countries tied)
▼ -7 percentile points since 2015
bottom 48% of 109 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%)
Tonga 92.43 · world median 93.19 (worse)
Best in the world 158.55 (Monaco)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2014
bottom 27% of 95 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%)
Tonga 41.55 · world median 65.76 (worse)
Best in the world 97.89 (Belarus)
▼ -31 percentile points since 2018
top 29% of 164 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Tonga 86.21 · world median 64.87 (better)
Best in the world 99.27 (South Korea)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
top 22% of 174 countries measured
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)
Tonga 99.72 · world median 98.22 (better)
Best in the world 100 (6 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 40% of 86 countries measured
UNICEF · Births attended by skilled health staff (%)
Tonga 98.3 · world median 98.8 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (11 countries tied)
▲ +10 percentile points since 2009
bottom 31% of 62 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%)
Tonga 9.8 · world median 13
Highest 35.2 (Afghanistan)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 44% of 136 countries measured
UNICEF · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%)
Tonga 39.57 · world median 40.74 (worse)
Best in the world 83.3 (Burundi)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 33% of 172 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality)
Tonga 0.444 · world median 0.351 (worse)
Best in the world 0.003 (Denmark)
No real change since 2013
top 16% of 109 countries measured
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) · MPI (0–1)
Tonga 0.003 · world median 0.039 (better)
Best in the world 0 (Serbia)
No real change since 2021
top 34% of 209 countries measured · 209 share 206 positions
Small Arms Survey · Violent deaths per 100,000 people
Tonga 1.89 · world median 4.02 (better)
Best in the world 0 (4 countries tied)
▼ -8 percentile points since 2011
bottom 43% of 172 countries measured
World Bank Group · HCI score (0–1)
Tonga 0.531 · world median 0.564 (worse)
Best in the world 0.879 (Singapore)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2017
top 47% of 193 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · HDI score (0–1)
Tonga 0.769 · world median 0.762 (better)
Best in the world 0.972 (Iceland)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2013
top 35% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births)
Tonga 7.775 · world median 12.26 (better)
Best in the world 1.214 (San Marino)
No real change since 2014
bottom 41% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates
Tonga 15.41 · world median 16.39 (worse)
Best in the world 23.21 (Monaco)
No real change since 2013
bottom 43% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Tonga 72.89 · world median 74.63 (worse)
Best in the world 86.37 (Monaco)
No real change since 2013
bottom 42% of 195 countries measured
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG) · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Tonga 66.78 · world median 46.65 (worse)
Best in the world 0.11 (Cook Islands)
No real change since 2013
bottom 25% of 181 countries measured · 181 share 178 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland)
Tonga 0.65 · world median 1.73
Highest 37.72 (Antigua and Barbuda)
No real change since 2014
top 8% of 162 countries measured
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Tonga 2.177 · world median 13.8 (better)
Best in the world 0.518 (Latvia)
No earlier reading to compare
top 36% of 200 countries measured
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Tonga 9.513 · world median 14.54 (better)
Best in the world 1.26 (San Marino)
No real change since 2014
bottom 17% of 90 countries measured
UNICEF · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%)
Tonga 86.6 · world median 75.8 (worse)
Best in the world 37.6 (Qatar)
No earlier reading to compare
top 28% of 215 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population with electricity access (%)
Tonga 100 · world median 100
Best in the world 100 (122 countries tied)
▲ +32 percentile points since 2014
top 35% of 145 countries measured · 145 share 143 positions
UNICEF · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%)
Tonga 10.1 · world median 17.1 (better)
Best in the world 0 (3 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
top 32% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%)
Tonga 10.99 · world median 17.05 (better)
Best in the world 4.865 (Slovenia)
▼ -3 percentile points since 2019
top 3% of 184 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity)
Tonga 0.998 · world median 0.971 (better)
Best in the world 1 (2 countries tied)
▲ +27 percentile points since 2013
top 38% of 169 countries measured
UNDP Human Development Report Office · IHDI (0–1)
Tonga 0.682 · world median 0.609 (better)
Best in the world 0.923 (Iceland)
No real change since 2019
top 5% of 130 countries measured
OECD Development Assistance Committee · Net ODA received (% of GNI)
Tonga 20.35 · world median 2.579
Highest 101.78 (Tuvalu)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2013
bottom 14% of 198 countries measured · 198 share 193 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Farm-gate emissions (kt CO₂eq)
Tonga 83.85 · world median 8,635
Highest 1,044,508 (India)
No real change since 2013
top 31% of 209 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Agricultural land (% of land area)
Tonga 48.61 · world median 37.96
Highest 86.48 (Côte d’Ivoire)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2013
top 30% of 206 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Arable land (hectares per person)
Tonga 0.191 · world median 0.109
Highest 1.459 (Kazakhstan)
▲ +10 percentile points since 2013
bottom 31% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Tonga 571.43 · world median 468.81 (worse)
Best in the world 23.49 (Ethiopia)
▲ +12 percentile points since 2014
bottom 7% of 190 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Vulnerability (0–1, where 1 is the most vulnerable)
Tonga 0.595 · world median 0.45 (worse)
Best in the world 0.263 (Norway)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2014
top 33% of 210 countries measured
Global Carbon Project · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person)
Tonga 1.464 · world median 3.21 (better)
Best in the world 0.054 (DR Congo)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2014
bottom 31% of 126 countries measured
Global Footprint Network · Ecological Footprint (global hectares per person)
Tonga 3.759 · world median 2.296 (worse)
Best in the world 0.514 (Yemen)
▼ -2 percentile points since 2015
bottom 13% of 192 countries measured
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP)
Tonga 5.367 · world median 2.738 (worse)
Best in the world 0.666 (Chad)
No real change since 2014
bottom 10% of 191 countries measured · 191 share 188 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Fertilizer consumption (kg per hectare of arable land)
Tonga 4.55 · world median 87.36
Highest 2,926 (Malaysia)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2013
bottom 30% of 213 countries measured · 213 share 210 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Forest area (% of land area)
Tonga 12.43 · world median 31.08
Highest 94.45 (Suriname)
No real change since 2013
top 11% of 160 countries measured
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) · New displacements by disaster (people)
Tonga 40 · world median 4,750 (better)
Best in the world 1 (Serbia)
▲ +37 percentile points since 2014
top 25% of 188 countries measured
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Livestock units per hectare of agricultural land
Tonga 1.05 · world median 0.535
Highest 43.97 (Singapore)
No real change since 2013
bottom 26% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated)
Tonga 14.29 · world median 35.66 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▲ +19 percentile points since 2014
bottom 19% of 190 countries measured
Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · ND-GAIN Index (0–100, where 100 is best placed to adapt)
Tonga 37.92 · world median 47.44 (worse)
Best in the world 71.85 (Norway)
▼ -12 percentile points since 2014
top 45% of 156 countries measured · 156 share 150 positions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) · Organic share of agricultural land (%)
Tonga 0.92 · world median 0.725 (better)
Best in the world 86.38 (Samoa)
▼ -32 percentile points since 2014
bottom 29% of 193 countries measured · 193 share 190 positions
Ember · Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Tonga 14.29 · world median 31.14 (worse)
Best in the world 100 (7 countries tied)
▲ +21 percentile points since 2014
top 27% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated)
Tonga 14.29 · world median 5.769 (better)
Best in the world 69.12 (Denmark)
▲ +53 percentile points since 2014
top 46% of 193 countries measured
Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV), Ruhr University Bochum · WorldRiskIndex score (0–100, where 100 is the most at risk)
Tonga 3.67 · world median 4.17 (better)
Best in the world 0.18 (Monaco)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2015
top 3% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Male births per 100 female births
Tonga 108.1 · world median 105.1
Highest 116.3 (Liechtenstein)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2013
top 35% of 196 countries measured · 196 share 59 positions
Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) · Deaths in organized violence (people)
Tonga 0 · world median 0
Best in the world 0 (138 countries tied)
No real change since 2015
top 37% of 191 countries measured
European Commission Joint Research Centre, with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee · INFORM Risk score (0–10, where 10 is the highest risk)
Tonga 3 · world median 3.7 (better)
Best in the world 0.7 (Singapore)
▲ +3 percentile points since 2016
top 7% of 211 countries measured
World Bank Group · Political Stability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Tonga 1.314 · world median 0.171 (better)
Best in the world 1.563 (Andorra)
▲ +15 percentile points since 2015
bottom 21% of 202 countries measured
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate from this country, end of year (people)
Tonga 65 · world median 1,272
Highest 5,224,131 (Ukraine)
▲ +6 percentile points since 2015
bottom 8% of 175 countries measured · 175 share 174 positions
World Bank Group · Average time to clear exports through customs (days)
Tonga 14 · world median 4.456 (worse)
Best in the world 1 (2 countries tied)
No earlier reading to compare
bottom 34% of 93 countries measured
World Bank Group · Average cost of sending $200 home (% of the amount)
Tonga 4.097 · world median 3.225 (worse)
Best in the world -49.69 (Malawi)
▼ -9 percentile points since 2016
bottom 3% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Net migrants per 1,000 population
Tonga -20.77 · world median -0.133
Highest 39.62 (South Sudan)
No real change since 2013
bottom 46% of 160 countries measured
World Bank Group · Population below the national poverty line (%)
Tonga 20.6 · world median 21.8
Highest 82.3 (South Sudan)
No earlier reading to compare
top 2% of 118 countries measured
World Bank Group · Short-term debt (% of total external debt)
Tonga 0 · world median 9.376 (better)
Best in the world 0 (5 countries tied)
No real change since 2014
bottom 44% of 193 countries measured
Ember · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation)
Tonga 0 · world median 0
Highest 707.07 (Palestine)
No real change since 2014
bottom 41% of 183 countries measured
Ember · Nuclear (% of electricity generated)
Tonga 0 · world median 0
Highest 67.4 (France)
No real change since 2014
bottom 38% of 192 countries measured
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · Energy use per person (million Btu)
Tonga 30.2 · world median 49.5
Highest 766.07 (Qatar)
No real change since 2014
top 26% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Births per 1,000 population
Tonga 23.12 · world median 13.79
Highest 46.36 (Central African Republic)
No real change since 2013
bottom 33% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Deaths per 1,000 population
Tonga 6.442 · world median 7.303
Highest 25.58 (Vatican City)
▲ +2 percentile points since 2013
bottom 21% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Median age (years)
Tonga 20.7 · world median 31.52
Highest 59.63 (Vatican City)
▼ -4 percentile points since 2013
bottom 43% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 65 and over (%)
Tonga 6.602 · world median 8.32
Highest 44.7 (Vatican City)
▼ -5 percentile points since 2013
top 33% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People per square kilometre of land
Tonga 160.92 · world median 96.92
Highest 26,145 (Monaco)
No real change since 2013
bottom 12% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Population growth (% per year)
Tonga -0.418 · world median 0.888
Highest 5.862 (South Sudan)
No real change since 2013
top 23% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Share of the total population aged 0–14 (%)
Tonga 35.62 · world median 22.71
Highest 49.17 (Central African Republic)
No real change since 2013
bottom 6% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Males per 100 females
Tonga 90.15 · world median 98.48
Highest 251.08 (Qatar)
▼ -46 percentile points since 2013
top 17% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · People aged 0–14 and 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64
Tonga 73.09 · world median 54.73
Highest 105.18 (Central African Republic)
▲ +4 percentile points since 2013
top 24% of 222 countries measured
UN DESA Population Division · Live births per woman
Tonga 3.13 · world median 1.962
Highest 6.132 (Somalia)
No real change since 2013
The newest edition of these reports does not include Tonga. Usually the publisher does not cover it; sometimes it has dropped out of a ranking it used to appear in.
07Keep reading
08Method
How a standing is built from percentiles, why Tonga can move because other countries moved, and why publishers measure between 120 and 215 countries each are set out in full in how a standing is made and what a standing cannot tell you.
The photograph of Tonga on this page comes from Wikimedia Commons and is shown in greyscale. The photographer and the licence are named beside each one.
Nations Inquiry (2026). Tonga: country statistics, rankings and trends. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/tonga