Tonga ranked 191/197 by economy size with a GDP of $591M and 115/197 by GDP per capita at $5,652. Tonga has $256M in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 37%.
In 2023, Tonga made up 0.0006% of the world's economy, compared to 0.0005% in 1975.
Tonga GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $591,139,749 | 2.79% |
| 2022 | $556,514,555 | -2.13% |
| 2021 | $519,306,353 | -0.93% |
| 2020 | $506,571,468 | 1.81% |
| 2019 | $506,031,239 | -0.29% |
| 2018 | $493,530,783 | 0.53% |
| 2017 | $459,976,850 | 3.2% |
| 2016 | $420,828,262 | 6.6% |
| 2015 | $437,525,514 | 1.11% |
| 2014 | $440,997,738 | 1.99% |
| 2013 | $451,788,498 | 0.39% |
| 2012 | $471,122,971 | 0.92% |
| 2011 | $414,143,828 | 6.7% |
| 2010 | $366,887,375 | 0.82% |
| 2009 | $312,415,028 | -5.13% |
| 2008 | $344,438,844 | 4.86% |
| 2007 | $298,519,623 | -2.46% |
| 2006 | $292,232,703 | -2.17% |
| 2005 | $261,823,805 | -0.66% |
| 2004 | $230,678,011 | -1.97% |
| 2003 | $202,246,591 | 0.05% |
| 2002 | $182,764,281 | 4.43% |
| 2001 | $181,117,230 | 1.49% |
| 2000 | $204,848,488 | 3.75% |
| 1999 | $199,208,718 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $191,504,893 | 2.29% |
| 1997 | $214,991,452 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | $222,100,576 | 0.09% |
| 1995 | $208,871,666 | 6.23% |
| 1994 | $195,990,986 | 4.95% |
| 1993 | $138,489,884 | 3.74% |
| 1992 | $137,066,291 | 0.25% |
| 1991 | $132,201,141 | 6.41% |
| 1990 | $113,563,822 | -2.04% |
| 1989 | $106,344,855 | 0.39% |
| 1988 | $106,657,267 | -1.88% |
| 1987 | $81,667,133 | 2.99% |
| 1986 | $68,195,856 | 2.12% |
| 1985 | $60,058,663 | 6.56% |
| 1984 | $64,248,355 | 1.74% |
| 1983 | $60,863,964 | 1.98% |
| 1982 | $62,068,161 | 4.74% |
| 1981 | $62,242,013 | - |
| 1980 | $53,260,077 | - |
| 1979 | $44,667,002 | - |
| 1978 | $41,567,472 | - |
| 1977 | $34,139,388 | - |
| 1976 | $30,036,417 | - |
| 1975 | $32,506,742 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY 
Tonga GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | $5,652 | $7,803 |
| 2022 | $5,298 | $7,296 |
| 2021 | $4,923 | $6,929 |
| 2020 | $4,792 | $6,676 |
| 2019 | $4,789 | $6,473 |
| 2018 | $4,675 | $6,393 |
| 2017 | $4,366 | $6,229 |
| 2016 | $3,988 | $5,920 |
| 2015 | $4,124 | $5,472 |
| 2014 | $4,137 | $5,336 |
| 2013 | $4,219 | $5,120 |
| 2012 | $4,384 | $4,996 |
| 2011 | $3,850 | $4,855 |
| 2010 | $3,416 | $4,465 |
| 2009 | $2,914 | $4,384 |
| 2008 | $3,218 | $4,600 |
| 2007 | $2,797 | $4,316 |
| 2006 | $2,750 | $4,327 |
| 2005 | $2,478 | $4,315 |
| 2004 | $2,195 | $4,235 |
| 2003 | $1,936 | $4,231 |
| 2002 | $1,759 | $4,171 |
| 2001 | $1,754 | $3,955 |
| 2000 | $1,995 | $3,834 |
| 1999 | $1,952 | $3,636 |
| 1998 | $1,889 | $3,527 |
| 1997 | $2,136 | $3,434 |
| 1996 | $2,215 | $3,410 |
| 1995 | $2,084 | $3,347 |
| 1994 | $1,957 | $3,088 |
| 1993 | $1,383 | $2,882 |
| 1992 | $1,370 | $2,716 |
| 1991 | $1,323 | $2,652 |
| 1990 | $1,139 | $2,416 |
| 1989 | $1,070 | - |
| 1988 | $1,078 | - |
| 1987 | $830 | - |
| 1986 | $696 | - |
| 1985 | $613 | - |
| 1984 | $656 | - |
| 1983 | $621 | - |
| 1982 | $633 | - |
| 1981 | $636 | - |
| 1980 | $545 | - |
| 1979 | $458 | - |
| 1978 | $428 | - |
| 1977 | $353 | - |
| 1976 | $315 | - |
| 1975 | $349 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
Tonga has a GDP per capita of $5,652, ranking 115/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $7,803, ranking 144/197, and a median annual after tax income of $3,886, ranking 128/197.
Tonga GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2023 | 187 | 111 | 133 |
| 2022 | 186 | 111 | 133 |
| 2021 | 187 | 107 | 132 |
| 2020 | 187 | 105 | 130 |
| 2019 | 187 | 109 | 132 |
| 2018 | 188 | 111 | 130 |
| 2017 | 188 | 112 | 132 |
| 2016 | 188 | 114 | 133 |
| 2015 | 189 | 110 | 134 |
| 2014 | 189 | 115 | 136 |
| 2013 | 189 | 116 | 136 |
| 2012 | 189 | 111 | 134 |
| 2011 | 190 | 117 | 134 |
| 2010 | 190 | 117 | 134 |
| 2009 | 190 | 118 | 135 |
| 2008 | 189 | 120 | 134 |
| 2007 | 188 | 117 | 134 |
| 2006 | 188 | 110 | 132 |
| 2005 | 187 | 108 | 129 |
| 2004 | 187 | 110 | 126 |
| 2003 | 187 | 108 | 122 |
| 2002 | 187 | 103 | 120 |
| 2001 | 187 | 102 | 118 |
| 2000 | 187 | 90 | 118 |
| 1999 | 185 | 90 | 117 |
| 1998 | 185 | 93 | 116 |
| 1997 | 185 | 92 | 115 |
| 1996 | 182 | 90 | 110 |
| 1995 | 181 | 92 | 109 |
| 1994 | 178 | 85 | 110 |
| 1993 | 177 | 93 | 113 |
| 1992 | 176 | 93 | 114 |
| 1991 | 175 | 96 | 118 |
| 1990 | 176 | 106 | 122 |
| 1989 | 159 | 91 | - |
| 1988 | 159 | 93 | - |
| 1987 | 159 | 103 | - |
| 1986 | 154 | 105 | - |
| 1985 | 154 | 112 | - |
| 1984 | 151 | 108 | - |
| 1983 | 149 | 114 | - |
| 1982 | 149 | 113 | - |
| 1981 | 149 | 115 | - |
| 1980 | 149 | 119 | - |
| 1979 | 141 | 113 | - |
| 1978 | 141 | 112 | - |
| 1977 | 141 | 117 | - |
| 1976 | 139 | 114 | - |
| 1975 | 139 | 109 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2023 Tonga is ranked 187th out of 192 by GDP (unchanged), 111th by GDP per capita (down from 90th), and 133rd by GDP per capita PPP (down from 118th).
Economic indicators
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$591M
2023 |
191/197 |
| GDP growth |
2.79%
2022-2023 |
112/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$5,652
2023 |
115/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$7,803
2023 |
144/197 |
| Government debt |
$256M
2023 |
180/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
37%
2024 |
142/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,445
2023 |
111/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$3,886
2026 |
128/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
22%
2021 |
159/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
4%
2021 |
15/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
51.3%
2024 |
15/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
3.18%
2023-2024 |
97/195 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.65%
2023 |
181/196 |
| Population |
103309
|
183/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 51.3% | 37% | 4.17% |
| 2023 | 48.2% | 43.3% | 6.14% |
| 2022 | 44.4% | 43.2% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 44.6% | 43% | -0.87% |
| 2020 | 37.9% | 42.6% | 5.25% |
| 2019 | 39.9% | 42.8% | 3.28% |
| 2018 | 39.6% | 45.8% | 2.92% |
| 2017 | 39.7% | 44.7% | 3.58% |
| 2016 | 37.2% | 49.4% | 1.47% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | 51.1% | -2.75% |
| 2014 | 31.5% | 47.4% | 6.38% |
| 2013 | 34.3% | 48.9% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 32% | 60% | -1.74% |
| 2011 | 32.6% | 51.9% | -6.02% |
| 2010 | 28.4% | 44.7% | -1.22% |
| 2009 | 23.9% | 39.7% | 6.85% |
| 2008 | 24% | 34% | 2.14% |
| 2007 | 23.2% | 37.8% | 5.39% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | 39.6% | 1.34% |
| 2005 | 19.8% | 43.3% | 4.23% |
| 2004 | 19.3% | 52.2% | 4.23% |
| 2003 | 20% | 56.2% | 2.37% |
| 2002 | 21.3% | 60.7% | 2.59% |
| 2001 | 19.1% | 53.4% | 2.23% |
| 2000 | 20% | 43.6% | 1.35% |
| 1999 | 18.8% | 38.4% | 1.55% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
This chart shows Tonga's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 26 years, Tonga recorded a fiscal deficit in 7 of them, with an average annual surplus equal to 2.06% of GDP. In 2023, government spending reached $285M (51.3% of GDP), with a surplus of 4.17%.
The national debt reached $256M, ranking 180th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 37%, ranking 142nd.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.18% |
| 2023 | 6.35% |
| 2022 | 11% |
| 2021 | 5.64% |
| 2020 | -0.35% |
| 2019 | 1.18% |
| 2018 | 5.03% |
| 2017 | 7.52% |
| 2016 | 2.58% |
| 2015 | -1.05% |
| 2014 | 2.51% |
| 2013 | 0.78% |
| 2012 | 1.15% |
| 2011 | 6.27% |
| 2010 | 3.53% |
| 2009 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | 10.4% |
| 2007 | 5.84% |
| 2006 | 6.15% |
| 2005 | 8.67% |
| 2004 | 11% |
| 2003 | 11.6% |
| 2002 | 10.4% |
| 2001 | 8.29% |
| 2000 | 6.33% |
| 1999 | 4.46% |
| 1998 | 3.27% |
| 1997 | 2.12% |
| 1996 | 3% |
| 1995 | 1.46% |
| 1994 | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 0.96% |
| 1992 | 7.94% |
| 1991 | 10.6% |
| 1990 | 9.71% |
| 1989 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | 9.92% |
| 1987 | 4.69% |
| 1986 | 21.7% |
| 1985 | 16.8% |
| 1984 | 0.11% |
| 1983 | 9.81% |
| 1982 | 10.8% |
| 1981 | 14.9% |
| 1980 | 22.4% |
| 1979 | 5.46% |
| 1978 | 9.58% |
| 1977 | 17.5% |
| 1976 | 7.11% |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1976–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Tonga has had an average annual inflation rate of 4.39%. In 2024, inflation was 3.18%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$43.5M
2024 |
83/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-7.93%
2023 |
151/190 |
| Goods imports |
$232M
2024 |
180/189 |
| Goods exports |
$10.8M
2024 |
186/189 |
| Service imports |
$161M
2024 |
178/189 |
| Service exports |
$93.6M
2024 |
172/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
64.9%
2023 |
45/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
14.7%
2023 |
170/193 |
Tonga top 10 trading partners
Tonga's biggest trading partner accounting for 28.5% of all exports and imports is New Zealand, with a trade balance between the two of -$77.9M: Tonga exports $6.91M worth of goods and services to New Zealand and imports $84.8M.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Tonga.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
New Zealand
|
$91.7M | 28.5% | $6.91M | $84.8M | Wood & paper products | Machinery & equipment |
| 2 |
Singapore
|
$54.1M | 16.8% | $370K | $53.8M | Machinery & equipment | Raw materials & minerals |
| 3 |
China
|
$45.7M | 14.2% | $3K | $45.7M | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 4 |
Fiji
|
$27.4M | 8.51% | $1.75M | $25.7M | Machinery & equipment | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 5 |
Australia
|
$24.3M | 7.55% | $627K | $23.7M | Raw agricultural goods | Animal & marine products |
| 6 |
United States
|
$20.9M | 6.49% | $702K | $20.2M | Raw agricultural goods | Animal & marine products |
| 7 |
Japan
|
$16.7M | 5.18% | $520K | $16.2M | Textiles & consumer goods | Machinery & equipment |
| 8 |
Indonesia
|
$8.66M | 2.69% | $43K | $8.62M | Machinery & equipment | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 9 |
North Korea
|
$6.9M | 2.14% | $0 | $6.9M | Animal & marine products | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
Malaysia
|
$4.75M | 1.48% | $330K | $4.42M | Animal & marine products | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
Top 10 exports
|
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport & tourism services | $19.8M | 176/188 |
| IT & IP services | $15.5M | 148/183 |
| Business & finance services | $7.42M | 174/188 |
| Machinery & equipment | $4.33M | 173/193 |
| Wood & paper products | $3.56M | 156/192 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $2.6M | 170/193 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $2.01M | 166/180 |
| Animal & marine products | $1.1M | 174/192 |
| Manufacturing & construction services | $540K | 153/164 |
| Metals | $183K | 185/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery & equipment | $80.8M | 182/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $73.9M | 180/188 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $61.4M | 179/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $54M | 181/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $31.9M | 171/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $28.9M | 181/193 |
| Metals | $22M | 180/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $20.1M | 185/193 |
| Business & finance services | $19.4M | 178/188 |
| Wood & paper products | $13.8M | 181/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 58.9 | 107/197 |
| Property rights | 71.1 | 49/182 |
| Government integrity | 45.1 | 80/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 64.9 | 54/182 |
| Tax burden | 85.6 | 54/182 |
| Government spending | 31 | 162/180 |
| Fiscal health | 97.3 | 16/181 |
| Business freedom | 59.2 | 116/182 |
| Labor freedom | 55.9 | 94/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 61 | 154/180 |
| Trade freedom | 75.4 | 71/181 |
| Investment freedom | 40 | 137/181 |
| Financial freedom | 20 | 173/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | 58.9 | 64.9 | 85.6 | 31 | 97.3 |
| 2025 | 58.5 | 65.7 | 84.9 | 28.9 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 59.2 | 68.8 | 85.4 | 40.1 | 95.9 |
| 2023 | 60 | 43.2 | 85.4 | 46.5 | 95.5 |
| 2022 | 60.8 | 68.1 | 85.4 | 54.6 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 57.5 | 23.3 | 84.8 | 53.7 | 95.4 |
| 2020 | 58.8 | 26.5 | 85.2 | 42.8 | 95.2 |
| 2019 | 57.7 | 26.6 | 85.5 | 40.9 | 93.4 |
| 2018 | 63.1 | 25.4 | 85.4 | 68.7 | 95.9 |
| 2017 | 63 | 19.8 | 86.9 | 74.4 | 79.6 |
| 2016 | 59.6 | - | 86.9 | 76.3 | - |
| 2015 | 59.3 | - | 87.2 | 79 | - |
| 2014 | 58.2 | - | 86.7 | 74.8 | - |
| 2013 | 56 | - | 87.1 | 64.7 | - |
| 2012 | 57 | - | 85.9 | 62.2 | - |
| 2011 | 55.8 | - | 83.1 | 73.2 | - |
| 2010 | 53.4 | - | 82.8 | 70.8 | - |
| 2009 | 54.1 | - | 82.5 | 58 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
Tonga is ranked 95/174 for economic freedom with a score of 58.9, compared to 124/177 and a score of 54.1 in 2009.
Other economic metrics
|
Tonga
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
50%
2023 |
133/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
14.9%
2023 |
164/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
19%
2023 |
41/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$619M
2023 |
189/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$8,400
2023 |
134/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$377M
2024 |
163/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$13.3M
2024 |
39/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
-$12.1M
2024 |
173/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$1.25M
2024 |
131/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
2.76%
2023 |
84/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
20.6%
2021 |
93/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
25.9%
2023 |
59/178 |
Compare Tonga vs other countries
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/tonga | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1975–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1999–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2022–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.