Male labor force participation rate in Tonga
Tonga: Male labor force participation rate was 59.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Male labor force participation rate in Tonga, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Tonga recorded 59.0% for male labor force participation rate in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Tonga peaked at 75.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 59.0%, in 2025.
Tonga ranks 168th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Male labor force participation rate in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 75.6% | — |
| 1991 | 75.4% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 75.2% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 75.0% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 74.7% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 74.4% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 74.0% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 73.6% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 73.4% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 73.1% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 72.9% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 72.6% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 72.3% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 72.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 71.8% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 71.5% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 71.1% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 70.8% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 70.3% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 69.9% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 69.5% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 69.1% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 68.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 68.3% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 67.8% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 67.3% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 66.9% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 66.6% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 65.6% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 63.9% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 62.8% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 61.8% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 60.3% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 59.7% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 59.0% | -1.2% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 59.0% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 71.6%, 82% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 59.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72.0%, 82% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74.4% | 73.1% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.6% | 70.3% | 72.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.0% | 65.6% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.3% | 59.0% | 63.9% | 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 male labor force participation rate in Tonga?
- Male labor force participation rate in Tonga was 59.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 75.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.0% in 2025.
- How does Tonga rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Tonga ranks 168th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).