Population growth in Tonga
Tonga: Population growth was -0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Tonga, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Tonga is -0.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Tonga peaked at 2.8% in 1961 and was at its lowest, -0.5%, in 2016.
Tonga ranks 194th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.5% | 1.9% | 2.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.6% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1% | -0.5% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -0.4% | 0.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
More climate change data for Tonga
- Population, total 103,742 (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.4% (2025)
- Urban population 21,948 (2025)
- Urban population 21.2% (2025)
- Terrestrial protected areas 13.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 0.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 0.1% (2025)
- CPIA public sector management and institutions cluster average 3.7 1=low to 6=high (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Tonga?
- Population growth in Tonga was -0.4% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 2.8% in 1961.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.5% in 2016.
- How does Tonga rank for population growth?
- Tonga ranks 194th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.