Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga
Tonga: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 52.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga is 52.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga peaked at 61.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 52.2%, in 2025.
Tonga ranks 164th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57.3% | — |
| 1991 | 58.3% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 59.4% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 60.5% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 61.5% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 61.3% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 61.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 60.8% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 60.5% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 60.4% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 60.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 60.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 59.9% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 59.8% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 59.6% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 59.4% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 59.2% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 59.0% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 58.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 58.6% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 58.3% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 58.1% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 57.8% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 57.6% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 57.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 56.9% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 56.6% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 56.3% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 55.8% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 54.7% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 54.2% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 53.7% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 53.0% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 52.6% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 52.2% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.1% | 57.3% | 61.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 59.6% | 58.9% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 57.3% | 55.8% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.4% | 52.2% | 54.7% | 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 labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Tonga was 52.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 1994.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 52.2% in 2025.
- How does Tonga rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Tonga ranks 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.