Photo: Haanofonua derivative work: Massimo Telò · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Tonga: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Tonga is placed 146th of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 7,413 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 12.82 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
146th
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 7,413GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 12.82Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- —Economic Complexity Index, 2024No reading for this country
- —Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Tonga on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
7,413
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Tonga: 7,413. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Polynesia
- 7,963 Samoa
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Tonga’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
12.82
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Tonga: 12.82. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Polynesia
- 46.03 Samoa
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
No reading
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Tonga, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
World Bank Group publishes no 2024 figure for Tonga, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
02Over time
Which way Tonga is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
TongaWorld median
Tonga rose from 5,809 in 2000 to 7,413 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Tonga World median 2025 7,413 17,265 2024 7,181 18,108 2023 7,031 17,686 2022 6,811 16,933 2021 6,930 16,260 2020 6,981 15,631 2019 6,860 16,761 2018 6,886 16,349 2017 6,864 16,129 2016 6,640 15,512 2015 6,195 14,857 2014 6,098 14,475 2013 5,952 14,681 2012 5,908 14,631 2011 5,848 13,916 2010 5,489 14,101 2009 5,455 13,655 2008 5,759 14,030 2007 5,507 13,755 2006 5,672 12,983 2005 5,829 12,023 2004 5,901 11,608 2003 6,055 11,183 2002 6,086 11,144 2001 5,861 10,907 2000 5,809 10,589
03In context
Tonga beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
Tonga and Polynesia
Tonga has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Samoa | 91st | 7,963 | 46.03 | — | — |
| Tonga | 146th | 7,413 | 12.82 | — | — |
 American Samoa | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cook Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 French Polynesia | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Niue | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Tuvalu | not placed | 5,776 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Tonga in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Tonga is ahead of the world, and behind
28 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Tonga does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.817.2141.81No earlier reading
Tonga: 7.21 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 177th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.47410.177.474▲ Improved since 2014
Tonga: 10.17 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 44th of 118 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6747.0146.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Tonga: 47.01 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 96th of 195 · derived.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Tonga does worse than the middle country measured.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.093-0.255-0.093No real change since 2015
Tonga: -0.255 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 119th of 209 · derived.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3962.83.396▲ Improved since 2015
Tonga: 2.8 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 112th of 186 · derived.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3950.152.39No earlier reading
Tonga: 50.1 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 104th of 169 · derived.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2128.1456.21▲ Improved since 2016
Tonga: 28.14 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 114th of 175 by UNCTAD.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06100.86107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
Tonga: 100.86 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 133rd of 194 · derived.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4212.4525.42▲ Improved since 2014
Tonga: 12.45 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 124th of 170 · derived.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.2397.18106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
Tonga: 97.18 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 144th of 195 · derived.
Debt Service on External DebtWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 12.9322.8212.93▼ Worsened since 2014
Tonga: 22.82 · world median 12.93 · Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.285 to 96.2; lower is better.
Position 27th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.0897.78106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Tonga: 97.78 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 155th of 195 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1923.1140.19▼ Worsened since 2020
Tonga: 23.11 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 156th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
New Business DensityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.1870.6972.187▼ Worsened since 2014
Tonga: 0.697 · world median 2.187 · New limited liability companies registered per 1,000 people aged 15–64. World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 26.76; higher is better.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.389-3.3478.389▼ Worsened since 2011
Tonga: -3.347 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 107th of 118 · derived.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.41.53510.4No earlier reading
Tonga: 1.535 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.666.443.66Moved since 2012
Tonga: 6.44 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1777.0267.17Moved since 2014
Tonga: 77.02 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3062.963.306Moved since 2015
Tonga: 2.96 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.8518.2321.85No real change since 2014
Tonga: 18.23 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.2140.306Moved since 2015
Tonga: 0.214 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0618.5422.06Moved since 2014
Tonga: 18.54 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 97th of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.0411.708No real change since 2011
Tonga: 0.041 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 160th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.2383.82103.23Moved since 2015
Tonga: 83.82 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240242,240Moved since 2022
Tonga: 24 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Creative Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 6.1710.1366.171Moved since 2014
Tonga: 0.136 · world median 6.171 · Creative services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.002 to 63.91.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.730.538275.73Moved since 2016
Tonga: 0.538 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.968-2.9861.968Moved since 2015
Tonga: -2.986 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
No current reading for Tonga
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2023), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic (last 2019), Creative Goods Exports (last 2023), Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI) (last 2023), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Frontier Technology Readiness Index, General Government Consumption (last 2024), Gini Index (last 2021), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2021), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption (last 2024), ICT Goods Exports (last 2023), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2021), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2021), Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2024), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt (last 2023), Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Palma Ratio (last 2021), Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Services Exports (last 2024), Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Statutory Minimum Wage, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Tonga’s 15 topics
Economy & Innovation is Tonga’s 14th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Poverty & Inequality15th of 1592/3 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 55th of 1772/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing64th of 2003/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties77th of 1983/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge90th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability95th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equality94th of 1832/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 103rd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience113th of 1933/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital115th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions124th of 1942/4 keys
- Energy120th of 1652/3 keys
- Digital & Technology159th of 1983/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation146th of 1762/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture169th of 1842/4 keys
No standing on Peace & Security: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Tonga can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia27th4/4 keysHighest in Polynesia
Samoa91st2/4 keysThis page
Tonga146th2/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Tonga and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Tonga on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Tonga rank on economy & innovation?
Tonga is placed 146th of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP) and Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Tonga?
7,413 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Tonga?
12.82 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How have Tonga’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 5,809 in 2000 to 7,413 in 2025.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Tonga?
No current reading is published for Tonga on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP), Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Container Port Traffic, Creative Goods Exports, Economic Complexity Index, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Foreign Value Added Share of Gross Exports, Frontier Technology Readiness Index, General Government Consumption, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), Global Innovation Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Household Consumption, ICT Goods Exports, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate), Interest Payments on External Debt, Logistics Performance Index, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Palma Ratio, Price Level of Household Consumption, Research and Development Spending, Researchers per Million Inhabitants, Services Exports, Statutory Corporate Income Tax Rate, Statutory Minimum Wage, Total Factor Productivity Level, Trade (% of GDP), Water-Use Efficiency and World Energy Trilemma Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 28 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Tonga’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Tonga (banner) — Haanofonua derivative work: Massimo Telò, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Tonga: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/tonga/economy