Employment rate in Tonga
Tonga: Employment rate was 48.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rate in Tonga, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Tonga is 48.8%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Tonga peaked at 58.9% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 48.8%, in 2025.
Tonga ranks 148th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 55.9% | — |
| 1992 | 57.0% | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 58.1% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 58.9% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 58.5% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 58.0% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 57.4% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 57.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 56.6% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 55.8% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 55.5% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 55.0% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 55.6% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 56.2% | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 56.7% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 56.5% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 56.2% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 56.0% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 55.7% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 55.3% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 55.0% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 54.7% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 54.3% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 53.9% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 53.6% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 53.2% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 52.8% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 52.3% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 51.0% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 50.8% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 50.3% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 49.8% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 49.2% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 48.8% | -0.8% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 48.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 88% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 48.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.9%, 79% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.5% | 55.9% | 58.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.0% | 55.0% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.1% | 52.3% | 55.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.0% | 48.8% | 51.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More work & labour data for Tonga
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.0076 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.0285 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0138 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.0722 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.78 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 41.65 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 98.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 58.13 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 59.74 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 117.87 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Tonga?
- Employment rate in Tonga was 48.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 58.9% in 1994.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 2025.
- How does Tonga rank for employment rate?
- Tonga ranks 148th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.