In 2024, the unemployment rate in Tonga decreased by 0.1 percentage points (-4.42 percent) compared to 2023. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher unemployment rate than the preceding years.The unemployment rate of a country or region refers to the share of the total workforce that is currently without work, but actively searching for employment. It does not include economically inactive persons, such as children, retirees, or the long-term unemployed.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like New Zealand and Fiji.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tonga was reported at 2.192 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tonga - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The youth unemployment rate in Tonga decreased by 0.2 percentage points (-3.08 percent) in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher youth unemployment rate than the preceding years.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Australia and Fiji.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tonga was reported at 1.702 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tonga - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 1.853 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.046 % for 2018. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 1.853 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2021, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.046 % in 2018 and a record low of 1.142 % in 2016. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force 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: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).;International Labour Organization. “Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Tonga (SLUEM1524ZSTON) from 1991 to 2024 about Tonga, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

Tonga: Unemployment rate for males: The latest value from 2023 is 1.85 percent, a decline from 1.89 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.42 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for Tonga from 1991 to 2023 is 1.76 percent. The minimum value, 0.8 percent, was reached in 2006 while the maximum of 3.79 percent was recorded in 2003.

Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 2.206 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.974 % for 2018. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 2.206 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2021, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.974 % in 2018 and a record low of 1.089 % in 2016. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Basic Education: Female: % of Female Labour Force 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: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).;International Labour Organization. “Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;

Tonga youth unemployment rate for 2024 was 6.34%, a 0.16% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Tonga youth unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>6.50%</strong>, a <strong>0.13% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Tonga youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>6.62%</strong>, a <strong>0.32% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Tonga youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>6.30%</strong>, a <strong>1.64% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.

Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 1.594 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.556 % for 2016. Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 1.975 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.427 % in 2003 and a record low of 1.509 % in 2012. Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force 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: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 2.715 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.664 % for 2016. Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 2.917 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.173 % in 2003 and a record low of 2.527 % in 2006. Tonga TO: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 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: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tonga was reported at 6.338 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tonga - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tonga was reported at 2.8 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tonga - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Tonga was reported at 10.02 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Tonga - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

This is the fourth Labor Force Survey of Tonga. The first one was conducted in 1990. Earlier surveys were conducted in 1990, 1993/94, and 2003 and the results of those surveys were published by the Statistics Department.

The objective of the LFS survey is providing information on not only well-known employment and unemployment as well as providing comprehensive information on other standard indicators characterizing the country labour market. It covers those age 10 and over in the whole Kingdom. Information includes age, sex, activity, current and usual employment status, hours worked and wages and in addition included a seperate Food Insecurity Experiences Survey (FIES) questionniare module at the Household Level.

The conceptual framework used in this labour force survey in Tonga aligns closely with the standards and guidelines set out in Resolutions of International Conferences of Labour Statistician.

Version 01: Clean, labelled and de-identified version of the Master file.

The scope of the study includes:

-Household composition and individual characteristics of household members
-Literacy and education (age 3+)
-Training within the last 12 months (outside of the general eucation system)
-Employment main characteristics (10 years and older)
-Agriculture work
-Temporary absence
-Market activity
-Characteristics of the main paid job/business activity
-Characteristics of the second paid job/business activity
-Working time
-Job search
-Previous work experience
-Occupational injuries within the last 12 months
-Main activity
-Own use production work
-Food insecurity experiences (FIES) for Households only module

• Collection start: 2018
• Collection end: 2018

This horizontal bar chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) by country using the aggregation average in Tonga. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

This horizontal bar chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) by demonym using the aggregation average in Tonga. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays unemployment (% of total labor force) against male population (people) in Tonga. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Tonga TO: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data was reported at 2.265 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.312 % for 2018. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 2.288 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2021, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.312 % in 2018 and a record low of 2.265 % in 2021. Tonga TO: Unemployment with Advance Education: % of Total Labour Force 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: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).;International Labour Organization. “Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;

This scatter chart displays date (year) against unemployment (% of total labor force) in Tonga. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.