Photo: Haanofonua derivative work: Massimo Telò · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Tonga: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Tonga is placed joint 103rd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 48.81 (2025); Labour Income Share 43.68 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint103rd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Tonga on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
48.81
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Tonga: 48.81. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Polynesia
- 48.81 Tonga
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.008
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Tonga: 2.008. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Polynesia
- 2.008 Tonga
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
33.7
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Tonga: 33.7. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Polynesia
- 14.78 French Polynesia
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.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
TongaWorld median
Tonga fell from 56.23 in 2000 to 48.81 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Tonga World median 2025 48.81 57.720 2024 49.21 57.694 2023 49.77 58.158 2022 50.35 57.688 2021 50.84 56.066 2020 50.97 55.691 2019 52.31 57.871 2018 52.78 56.911 2017 53.19 56.738 2016 53.57 56.845 2015 53.93 56.788 2014 54.30 56.774 2013 54.67 56.229 2012 54.98 56.289 2011 55.28 56.297 2010 55.65 56.212 2009 55.97 56.255 2008 56.24 57.308 2007 56.45 56.933 2006 56.74 56.685 2005 56.16 56.129 2004 55.60 55.465 2003 55.02 55.630 2002 55.47 55.843 2001 55.82 56.018 2000 56.23 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
TongaWorld median
Tonga fell from 44.5 in 2004 to 43.68 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Tonga World median 2025 43.68 46.230 2024 43.83 46.060 2023 43.82 45.900 2022 44.85 45.615 2021 42.85 45.433 2020 45.38 47.267 2019 44.04 46.277 2018 43.98 46.187 2017 43.51 46.467 2016 42.88 46.798 2015 43.92 46.876 2014 43.76 47.281 2013 44.06 46.887 2012 43.95 46.231 2011 42.86 45.679 2010 43.97 46.024 2009 45.10 47.071 2008 43.20 45.312 2007 44.59 45.246 2006 44.54 45.670 2005 44.25 46.265 2004 44.50 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
TongaWorld median
Tonga fell from 3.966 in 2000 to 2.008 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Tonga World median 2025 2.01 5.08 2024 1.97 5.15 2023 1.65 5.21 2022 2.00 5.34 2021 2.11 6.04 2020 2.71 6.38 2019 2.17 5.36 2018 2.25 5.35 2017 2.14 5.59 2016 2.05 5.90 2015 2.02 6.41 2014 1.91 6.58 2013 1.75 6.71 2012 1.64 6.79 2011 1.59 6.90 2010 1.50 7.04 2009 1.42 6.67 2008 1.28 5.79 2007 1.21 6.00 2006 1.09 6.50 2005 2.54 7.09 2004 3.88 6.80 2003 5.18 6.95 2002 4.68 6.91 2001 4.37 6.96 2000 3.97 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
TongaWorld median
Tonga fell from 40.05 in 2000 to 33.7 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Tonga World median 2025 33.696 28.67 2024 33.942 29.04 2023 34.041 29.33 2022 34.733 29.67 2021 35.378 30.01 2020 36.506 30.54 2019 37.082 29.98 2018 37.929 30.15 2017 38.304 29.93 2016 38.743 29.91 2015 39.123 30.26 2014 39.322 30.47 2013 39.454 31.14 2012 39.498 31.00 2011 39.649 31.41 2010 39.835 32.37 2009 39.885 32.59 2008 39.873 31.76 2007 39.909 33.47 2006 39.895 34.27 2005 39.697 34.66 2004 39.680 35.51 2003 39.699 35.90 2002 39.829 35.96 2001 39.958 35.27 2000 40.048 35.67
03In context
Tonga beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, 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 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonga | =103rd | 48.81 | 43.68 | 2.008 | 33.7 |
 French Polynesia | 128th | 46.26 | 51.48 | 11.66 | 14.78 |
 Samoa | 152nd | 40.41 | 42.11 | 4.996 | 41.64 |
 American Samoa | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cook Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Niue | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Tuvalu | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Polynesia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Tonga in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Tonga is ahead of the world, and behind
18 more statistics filed under work & labour, 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 median4
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.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1630.1819.16No earlier reading
Tonga: 30.18 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 25th of 179 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.836.02912.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Tonga: 6.029 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 150th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.871.61▲ Improved since 2016
Tonga: 0.87 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Tonga does worse than the middle country measured.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7652.8636.76No earlier reading
Tonga: 52.86 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 40th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1614.7322.16▲ Improved since 2015
Tonga: 14.73 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 116th of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38423,33747,384▲ Improved since 2015
Tonga: 23,337 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 118th of 168 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0718.8932.07No earlier reading
Tonga: 18.89 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3642.3553.36No real change since 2015
Tonga: 42.35 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 141st of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Tonga: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6649.8161.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Tonga: 49.81 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 158th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 98098No real change since 2015
Tonga: 0 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Tonga: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8823.3418.88Moved since 2015
Tonga: 23.34 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 51st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8441.7931.84Moved since 2015
Tonga: 41.79 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 72nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3823.6114.38Moved since 2015
Tonga: 23.61 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 73rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5153.0559.51Moved since 2015
Tonga: 53.05 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 110th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8930.7438.89Moved since 2015
Tonga: 30.74 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 167th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Tonga
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2023), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2023), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2023), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2023), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2023), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2023), Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2023). 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
Work & Labour among Tonga’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Tonga’s 8th 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 work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Tonga can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia=4th4/4 keysHighest in Polynesia
Tonga=103rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 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 work & labour
On work & labour
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.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Tonga on work & labour: 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 work & labour?
Tonga is placed joint 103rd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Tonga?
48.81 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Tonga?
43.68 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Tonga’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 56.23 in 2000 to 48.81 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 44.5 in 2004 to 43.68 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 3.966 in 2000 to 2.008 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 40.05 in 2000 to 33.7 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Tonga?
No current reading is published for Tonga on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. 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
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour 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 work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 2 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
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Tonga: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/tonga/work