Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga
Tonga: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 33.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga is 33.7%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga peaked at 41.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2025.
Tonga ranks 80th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 41.3% | — |
| 1992 | 41.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 41.1% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 40.9% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 40.6% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 40.4% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 40.4% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 40.3% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 40.2% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 40.0% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 40.0% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 39.7% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 39.7% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 39.7% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 39.9% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 39.9% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 39.9% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 39.9% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 39.8% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 39.6% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 39.5% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 39.5% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 39.3% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 39.1% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 38.7% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 38.3% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 37.9% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 37.1% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 36.5% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 35.4% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 34.7% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 34.0% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 33.9% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 33.7% | -0.7% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 33.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 33.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.7% | 40.2% | 41.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 39.8% | 39.7% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.9% | 37.1% | 39.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.7% | 33.7% | 36.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 77 Sao Tome and Principe 35.0% compare
- 78 Cape Verde 34.3% compare
- 79 Honduras 33.9% compare
- 81 Philippines 33.6% compare
- 82 China 33.4% compare
- 83 Uzbekistan 33.3% compare
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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Tonga was 33.7% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 41.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2025.
- How does Tonga rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Tonga ranks 80th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).