Labor force, total in Tonga
Tonga: Labor force, total was 33,628 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, total in Tonga, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
Tonga recorded 33,628 for labor force, total in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Tonga peaked at 37,875 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 32,884, in 1990.
Tonga ranks 187th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Labor force, total in Tonga, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 32,884 | — |
| 1991 | 33,647 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 34,415 | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 35,186 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 35,945 | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 35,945 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 35,912 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 36,102 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 36,493 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 36,817 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 37,080 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 37,280 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 37,417 | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 37,506 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 37,561 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 37,586 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 37,584 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 37,650 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 37,771 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 37,845 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 37,875 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 37,835 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 37,695 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 37,481 | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 37,216 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 36,946 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 36,638 | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 36,431 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 36,363 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 36,164 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 35,568 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 35,255 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 34,733 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 34,073 | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 33,779 | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 33,628 | -0.4% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 33,628 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 1% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 33,628 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.75 million, 1% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35,335 | 32,884 | 36,817 | 10 |
| 2000s | 37,528 | 37,080 | 37,845 | 10 |
| 2010s | 37,064 | 36,164 | 37,875 | 10 |
| 2020s | 34,506 | 33,628 | 35,568 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 184 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 53,688 compare
- 185 United States Virgin Islands 47,132 compare
- 186 Sao Tome and Principe 35,075 compare
More education data for Tonga
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,086 (2015)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 20 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1,228 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1,164 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 16,132 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15,644 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1502 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Tonga?
- Labor force, total in Tonga was 33,628 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 37,875 in 2010.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 32,884 in 1990.
- How does Tonga rank for labor force, total?
- Tonga ranks 187th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.