Unemployment rate in Tonga
Tonga: Unemployment rate was 2.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment 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 unemployment rate in Tonga is 2.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Tonga peaked at 5.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2006.
That places Tonga 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.3% | 3.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.0% | 1.1% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.7% | 6 |
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 unemployment rate in Tonga?
- Unemployment rate in Tonga was 2.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2006.
- How does Tonga rank for unemployment rate?
- Tonga ranks 170th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.7%. 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.