Female labor force participation rate in Tonga
Tonga: Female labor force participation rate was 42.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Tonga, 1966–2023
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Tonga is 42.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.0% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Tonga peaked at 50.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 1966.
Tonga ranks 153rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1970s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 18.3% | 17.9% | 18.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 40.7% | 36.1% | 45.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 34.2% | 34.2% | 34.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 42.1% | 41.4% | 42.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 46.7% | 42.9% | 50.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More work & labour data for Tonga
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 52.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 71.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 42.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 19.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 31.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 49.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Tonga?
- Female labor force participation rate in Tonga was 42.9% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 1966.
- How does Tonga rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Tonga ranks 153rd out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.