Tonga: Poverty ratio, percent living on less than 1.90 USD a day: The latest value from 2021 is 0 percent, a decline from 1.8 percent in 2015. In comparison, the world average is 5.30 percent, based on data from 71 countries. Historically, the average for Tonga from 2000 to 2021 is 1.55 percent. The minimum value, 0 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 3.1 percent was recorded in 2000.

Historical dataset showing Tonga poverty rate by year from 2000 to 2021.

Tonga: Poverty ratio, percent living on less than 5.50 USD a day: The latest value from 2021 is 21.5 percent, a decline from 47.9 percent in 2015. In comparison, the world average is 25.11 percent, based on data from 71 countries. Historically, the average for Tonga from 2000 to 2021 is 35.75 percent. The minimum value, 21.5 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 47.9 percent was recorded in 2015.

Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data was reported at 0.000 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.800 % for 2015. Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.900 % from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.800 % in 2015 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2021. Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (World Bank) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Multidimensional Poverty Measure. The Multidimensional Poverty Measure includes three dimensions – monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure services – to capture a more complete picture of poverty.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Poverty gap at $5.5 a day of Tonga slumped by 13.04% from 9.2 % in 2009 to 8.0 % in 2015. Since the 3.37% improve in 2009, poverty gap at $5.5 a day dropped by 13.04% in 2015. Poverty gap at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $5.50 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.

Tonga: Poverty, percent of population: The latest value from 2021 is 20.6 percent, unavailable from percent in . In comparison, the world average is 22.31 percent, based on data from 66 countries. Historically, the average for Tonga from 2021 to 2021 is 20.6 percent. The minimum value, 20.6 percent, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 20.6 percent was recorded in 2021.

Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 0.600 % in 2015. Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 0.600 % from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2015, with 1 observations. Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Total Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the total population is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the total population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2011 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The final year refers to the most recent survey available between 2011 and 2015. Growth rates for Iraq are based on survey means of 2005 PPP$. The coverage and quality of the 2011 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2011 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See PovcalNet for detailed explanations.; ; World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) circa 2010-2015 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).; ; The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

0,40 (%) in 2021. Population below $1.9 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $1.9 a day at 2005 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.

Tonga TO: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data was reported at 9.200 % in 2009. This stayed constant from the previous number of 9.200 % for 2001. Tonga TO: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data is updated yearly, averaging 9.200 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.200 % in 2009 and a record low of 9.200 % in 2009. Tonga TO: Poverty Gap at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Poverty gap at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) is the mean shortfall in income or consumption from the poverty line $5.50 a day (counting the nonpoor as having zero shortfall), expressed as a percentage of the poverty line. This measure reflects the depth of poverty as well as its incidence.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

The global Multidimensional Poverty Index provides the only comprehensive measure available for non-income poverty, which has become a critical underpinning of the SDGs. The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures multidimensional poverty in over 100 developing countries, using internationally comparable datasets and is updated annually. The measure captures the acute deprivations that each person faces at the same time using information from 10 indicators, which are grouped into three equally weighted dimensions: health, education, and living standards. Critically, the MPI comprises variables that are already reported under the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS), the Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and in some cases, national surveys.

The subnational multidimensional poverty data from the data tables are published by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford. For the details of the global MPI methodology, please see the latest Methodological Notes found here.

Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data was reported at 1.030 % in 2015. Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.030 % from Dec 2015 (Median) to 2015, with 1 observations. Tonga TO: Survey Mean Consumption or Income per Capita: Bottom 40% of Population: Annualized Average Growth Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. The growth rate in the welfare aggregate of the bottom 40% is computed as the annualized average growth rate in per capita real consumption or income of the bottom 40% of the population in the income distribution in a country from household surveys over a roughly 5-year period. Mean per capita real consumption or income is measured at 2011 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet). For some countries means are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The annualized growth rate is computed as (Mean in final year/Mean in initial year)^(1/(Final year - Initial year)) - 1. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported. The initial year refers to the nearest survey collected 5 years before the most recent survey available, only surveys collected between 3 and 7 years before the most recent survey are considered. The final year refers to the most recent survey available between 2011 and 2015. Growth rates for Iraq are based on survey means of 2005 PPP$. The coverage and quality of the 2011 PPP price data for Iraq and most other North African and Middle Eastern countries were hindered by the exceptional period of instability they faced at the time of the 2011 exercise of the International Comparison Program. See PovcalNet for detailed explanations.; ; World Bank, Global Database of Shared Prosperity (GDSP) circa 2010-2015 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/brief/global-database-of-shared-prosperity).; ; The comparability of welfare aggregates (consumption or income) for the chosen years T0 and T1 is assessed for every country. If comparability across the two surveys is a major concern for a country, the selection criteria are re-applied to select the next best survey year(s). Annualized growth rates are calculated between the survey years, using a compound growth formula. The survey years defining the period for which growth rates are calculated and the type of welfare aggregate used to calculate the growth rates are noted in the footnotes.

Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: UNDP: % of total population data was reported at 0.900 % in 2019. Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: UNDP: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.900 % from Dec 2019 (Median) to 2019, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.900 % in 2019 and a record low of 0.900 % in 2019. Tonga Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: UNDP: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (UNDP) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to UNDPs multidimensional poverty index. The index includes three dimensions -- health, education, and living standards.;Alkire, S., Kanagaratnam, U., and Suppa, N. (2023). ‘The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023 country results and methodological note’, OPHI MPI Methodological Note 55, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford. (https://ophi.org.uk/mpi-methodological-note-55-2/);;

The 2021 Tonga HIES is the new update of this kind, after the 2015/2016, 2009 & 2001 versions. This survey aims to provide indicators on Household Living Standard using monetary aspect (amount of income and expenditure), non-monetary aspect (calory consumed, assets own, imputed rents…) and more social approach (education, health, food security status…). Survey outputs have multiple uses in various domains such as public health (food nutrition analysis), economic development (poverty), system of National Account (consumption aggregates), and they represent a key source of information to populate many National SDGs.

Version 01: Cleaned, labelled and anonymized version of the Master file.

-HOUSEHOLD: Dwelling characteristics; Assets; Home maintenance; Vehicles; International trips; Domestic trips; Household services; Financial support; Other household expenditure; Ceremonies; Remittances; Food insecurity; Livestock and aquaculture; Agriculture; Legal services.
-INDIVIDUAL: Individual characteristics; Education; Health; Disability; Communication; Alcohol; Other individual expenses; Labour force; Fisheries and hunting; Handicraft.

• Collection start: 2021
• Collection end: 2021

0.0 (million persons) in 2015. Number of people living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government

Tonga TO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 31.900 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 29.200 % for 2001. Tonga TO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 30.550 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.900 % in 2009 and a record low of 29.200 % in 2001. Tonga TO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Abstract

Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) collects a wealth of information on household income and expenditure, such as source of income by industry, HH expenditure on goods and services, and income and expenditure associated with subsistence production and consumption. In addition to this, HIES collects information on sectoral and thematic areas, such as education, health, labour force, primary activities, transport, information and communication, transfers and remittances, food expenditure (acquisition) and gender.

The Pacific Islands regionally standardized HIES instruments and procedures were adopted by Tonga Statistics Department (TSD) for the 2015/2016 HIES. These standards, were designed to feed high-quality data to HIES data end users for: deriving expenditure weights and other useful data for the revision of the CPI, supplementing the data available for use in compiling official estimates of various components in the System of NA, supplementing the data available for production of the balance of payments; and gathering information on poverty lines and the incidence of poverty in Tonga.

The 2015/2016 HIES was conducted to update the 2009 HIES data and aimed to estimate the total amount HH spent and earnt over the past 12 months at the national and island group level (total expenditure and income).

Geographic coverage

National coverage.

Analysis unit

Individuals and Households.

Universe

Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) covered all persons who were considered to be usual residents of private dwellings (must have been living in Tonga for a period of 12-months, or have intention to live in Tonga for a period of 12-months in order to be included in the survey).

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The 2 stages sample method used in the 2015 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) aims to select randomly: Census blocks (with probability proportional to size - each blocks will have a different probability of selection) - based on the 2011 population census; and households (HHs) (within each selected blocks all the HHs have the same probability of selection) - based on a update of the HH listing conducted by the HIES field team.

To make the probability of selection more even, some small census blocks were merged and some large census blocks split. There's more detail in the methodological report on this process. Before each round, the field teams updated the HH listing in each randomly selected block (stage 1 sample selection) and, after the listing was updated, the team randomly selected 18 HHs, which were 12 HHs as primary target HHs to interview; and 6 HHs in case that a primary selected HH cannot participate and a replacement is needed (e.g., refusal, absence, etc.) - this is done in order to achieve a high response rate.

Sampling deviation

Two-stage selection is used in Tongatapu (urban and rural), Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua, with the selection of census blocks (merged and split) in the first stage and the selection of households (HHs) in the second stage. HHs in Ongo Niua were selected directly from the updated HH listing (one-stage).

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The use of a common questionnaire developed by the Statistics for Development Division (SDD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) was adopted by Tonga Statistics Department (TSD) to conduct Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2015. Addition to the 4 Modules was a section on Deprivation.

4 modules to collect socio-demographic information, and expenditure and income; and o a two-week diary to collect daily expenditure, gifts received and home produced items Four modules are completed by paper-based personal interview, including: 1. Demographic information – characteristics of household (HH) members, including activity and education profile; 2. Household characteristics and expenditure (Housing characteristics, Housing tenure expenditure, Utilities and communication...etc); 3. Individual expenditure (Education, Health, Clothing, Communication...etc); 4. Individual and HH income (Wages and salaries, Agricultural and Forestry activities, Fishing, gatehring and hunting activities...etc).

Depending on the information being collected, a recall period (ranging from the last 7 days to the last 12 months) is applied to various sections of the questionnaire.
The forms were completed by face-to-face interview, usually with the Household (HH) head providing most of the information, with other HH members being interviewed when necessary. The interviews took place over a 2-week period such that the HH diary, which is completed by the HH on a daily basis for 2 weeks, can be monitored while the module interviews take place.

The HH diary collects information on the HH’s daily expenditure on goods and services; and the harvest, capture, collection or slaughter of primary produce (fruit, vegetables and animals) by intended purpose (home consumption, sale or to give away).

The 4 Modules were published in English but with a Tongan version that was made available to enumerators to help them with the interview. For the diaries they were published in both Tongan and English which ever version that the household find easy to fill in.

Cleaning operations

A first set of edits was done on the raw data via questionnaire checks, which was the first set of corrections. A summary of findings includes: 1820 questionnaires retrieved from the field in which 17 households with no diaries were removed. The process for the manual cleaning included checking the following information in the questionnaire: Labour force section (waged job) declared in module 1 and salaries declared in module 4 (income section). Imputation of wages in households: 30011, 40176, 40190, 40097. Electricity connection and payment of electric bill (module 2). Imputation of electricity bill in households: 20290, 20302, 20304, 30051. Households who are using butane for cooking and payment for butane.Ages and relationship to the household head.Check all the government pension in the salary section. Check the remittances sent by household members who are currently picking fruits overseas (that have to be transferred in wages & salary section).Check if the household members who are in Australia/NZ for fruit picking have declared their resident status in the household accordingly (option 4). After the first clean of the raw data, 1803 valid questionnaires were kept.

Further edits that was done to the raw data set was done using the software STATA.

Response rate

The table below shows the response rates by strata: -Tongatapu - urban: 99.8% -Tongatapu - rura: 99.8% -Vava'u: 100.0% -Ha'apai: 94.3% -Eua: 96.4% -Ongo Niua: 99.0% -Total: 99%

Sampling error estimates

Standard error, the relative sampling errors (RSE) and 95 percentage confidence interval were calculated for the total household expenditure, total household consumption expenditure, total household non consumption expenditure, total household cash expenditure, total household subsistence expenditure, total household expenditure on COICOP division 1, total household net income, total household net cash income, total net wages and salary cash income and total net primary cash income by strata. At the national level the RSE calculated was of good quality however caution should be made at the strata level.

Details of the sampling errors are presented in the sampling errors appendix 2 of the report presented in the external resources.

Non-sampling errors cannot be readily measured, however it is worth noting the issues associated with non-sampling errors, including: both respondents and interviewers may not entirely understand the information required from the survey, which can result in misinterpretation of the question being asked and the incorrect response; enumerator and respondent fatigue, resulting in underreporting, especially in completion of the household (HH) diary; unwillingness to fully disclose information – especially in a small-island context - such as income and expenditure on some items (e.g., alcohol, tobacco and cash donations); the questionnaire being in English, which could be a second language for both the interviewers and respondents, and the need to complete a written diary (noting that: three-quarters of diaries were in Tongan; HHs were given the opportunity to complete a Tongan written diary; and enumerators could mostly converse in Tongan when required); and the inability to interview HHs members living abroad but remain dependent on the HH (e.g., students living in school dormitories) or are working to support the HH (e.g., seamen living on a ship), but who have not formed another HH outside of Tonga.

Tonga TO: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data was reported at 5.800 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.900 % for 2015. Tonga TO: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data is updated yearly, averaging 12.850 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2021, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.800 % in 2000 and a record low of 5.800 % in 2021. Tonga TO: Proportion of People Living Below 50 Percent Of Median Income: % data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Tonga – Table TO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The percentage of people in the population who live in households whose per capita income or consumption is below half of the median income or consumption per capita. The median is measured at 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) using the Poverty and Inequality Platform (http://www.pip.worldbank.org). For some countries, medians are not reported due to grouped and/or confidential data. The reference year is the year in which the underlying household survey data was collected. In cases for which the data collection period bridged two calendar years, the first year in which data were collected is reported.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Abstract

The 2021 Tonga HIES is the new update of this kind, after the 2015/2016, 2009 & 2001 versions. This survey aims to provide indicators on Household Living Standard using monetary aspect (amount of income and expenditure), non-monetary aspect (calory consumed, assets own, imputed rents…) and more social approach (education, health, food security status…). Survey outputs have multiple uses in various domains such as public health (food nutrition analysis), economic development (poverty), system of National Account (consumption aggregates), and they represent a key source of information to populate many National SDGs.

Geographic coverage

National coverage.

Analysis unit

Household and Individual.

Universe

Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) covered all persons who were considered to be usual residents of private dwellings.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The Tonga 2021 HIES sample design is based on a two stages sample design, where each stage corresponds to a random selection: - Stage 1: random selection of census blocks (using the probability of selection proportional to size) - Stage 2: random selection of households (from the selected blocks). Within each selected blocks, 12 households were randomly selected (uniform probability) The survey aims to disseminate results at strata level where stratas are defined on geographical combination of provinces and urban rural areas. The sample sizes were calculated at the strata level, with the aim of minimizing the sampling error (and relative sampling error) within each strata.

The sampling frame used was the 2016 population census.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

The 2021 Tonga Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) questionnaire was developed in English and Tongan language and it follows the Pacific Standard HIES questionnaire structure. It is administered on CAPI using Survey Solution, and the diary is no longer part of the form. All transactions (food, non food, home production and gifts) are collected through different recall sections during the same visit. The traditional 14 days diary is no longer recommended in the region. This new method of implementing the HIES present some interesting and valuable advantages such as: cost saving, data quality, time reduction for data processing and reporting. Only a sub sample of the selected HIES sample was asked to fill a 2-week diary (in addition to the core recall HIES questionnaire). But only the recall sections are used to compute the HIES outputs and aggregates, this sub sample HIES diary was made for research purposes.

Below is a list of all modules in this questionnaire: -Household ID -Demographic characteristics -Education -Health -Functionality -Communication -Alcohol -Other individual expenses -Labour force -Fisheries & hunting -Handicraft -Dwelling -Assets -Home maintenance -Vehicle -International trips -Domestic trips -Household services -Financial support -Other household expenditure -Ceremonies -Remittances -Food insecurity -Livestock & aquaculture -Agriculture parcel -Agriculture vegetables -Agriculture rootcrops -Agriculture other plants -Agriculture fruits -Legal services.

The survey questionnaire can be found in this documentation.

Cleaning operations

Once the data was collected using Survey Solutions, it was then edited on Stata (version 15).

Response rate

The final response rate including replacement from List B can be found below:

-Tongatapu urban: 95% -Tongatapu rural: 93.3% -Vava'u: 92.5% -Ha'apai: 96.1% -Eua: 99.2% -Ongo Niua: 96.6% -Total Tonga: 94.8%

Income share held by highest 10% of Tonga sank by 17.91% from 26.80 % in 2015 to 22.00 % in 2021. Since the 2.48% upward trend in 2009, income share held by highest 10% plummeted by 23.88% in 2021. Percentage share of income or consumption is the share that accrues to subgroups of population indicated by deciles or quintiles.

The average for 2021 based on 1 countries was 21.5 percent. The highest value was in Tonga: 21.5 percent and the lowest value was in Tonga: 21.5 percent. The indicator is available from 1963 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.