Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Tonga: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCC, ranked #150 of 195).
Tonga is a constitutional monarchy in Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. The country's capital is Nuku'alofa; it covers 747 sq km. Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status). Terrain: mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock. Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December). Population: 105,000 (2025 estimate). Population growth: +0.37% per year. Median age: 26.4 years. Life expectancy: 78 years (2024 est.). Languages: Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, T…
| Capital | Nuku'alofa |
|---|---|
| Population | 104,519 (2025 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $740.082 million (2023 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $7,100 (2023 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 2.1% (2023 est.) |
| Inflation | 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% |
| Public debt | 43.9% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Exports | $119.511 million (2024 est.) |
| Imports | $392.888 million (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 78 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 26.4 |
| Urbanization | 23.2% of total population (2023) |
| Government | constitutional monarchy |
| Independence | 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status) |
| Languages | Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.) |
MCC · 41/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
No single event defined Jul–Sep 2026. The country's position is the product of long-cycle forces — geography, trade, neighbours — all of which held steady.
Momentum at zero is not stagnation; it is the accurate record of a quarter without a catalyst.
Fatafehi Fakafānua — Prime Minister. King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
Tonga maintains 4 embassies and 1 consulates abroad, hosts 6 foreign diplomatic missions, holds permanent missions to UN New York. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 4 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 1 |
| Foreign missions hosted | 6 |
| Multilateral missions | UN New York |
Source: Wikipedia 'List of diplomatic missions of Tonga' / '... in Tonga'
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 419 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 6 (registration prefix A3) |
| Major seaports | Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai |
Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU) — Nuku'alofa; Vava'u International Airport (VAV) — Vava'u Island; Lifuka Island Airport (HPA) — Lifuka.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28); theodora.com CIA mirror (CIA World Factbook Transportation section), scraped 2026-10-02
| Political system | constitutional monarchy |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCC · 41 Ranked #150 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Tonga.
