Tonga Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Tonga's agriculture employment was 23.61% in 2025, ranked 110th globally. This represents a 2.6% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Tonga's agriculture employment stood at 23.61% in 2025, a decline of +0.63% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 22.68% by 2026. Tonga ranked 110th globally.
Tonga’s share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from 33.78 percent in 1991 to a trough of 23.61 percent in 2025, marking the lowest share recorded over the 35‑year series and placing the kingdom at rank 110 globally. The all‑time peak of 33.80 percent occurred in 1992, shortly after the sector’s historic dominance in the early 1990s, after which a gradual decline set in as structural shifts toward services and remittances accelerated. By 2025 Tonga’s agricultural employment is marginally lower than Peru’s 23.13 percent and Nepal’s 22.91 percent, but higher than Bolivia’s 24.71 percent, reflecting a regional pattern of modest contraction in agrarian workforces. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that unless policy interventions bolster farm productivity, diversify rural income sources, or reverse urban migration, the share of workers in agriculture is likely to continue its decline in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 21.10% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 21.89% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 22.68% | - | - |
| 2025 | 23.61% | −0.63% | #110 |
| 2024 | 24.24% | −0.54% | #110 |
| 2023 | 24.78% | −1.13% | #111 |
| 2022 | 25.91% | −0.81% | #113 |
| 2021 | 26.72% | −1.94% | #113 |
| 2020 | 28.66% | −0.93% | #116 |
| 2019 | 29.59% | −1.51% | #121 |
| 2018 | 31.10% | −0.41% | #126 |
| 2017 | 31.50% | −0.66% | #127 |
| 2016 | 32.16% | +0.14% | #128 |
| 2015 | 32.01% | +0.11% | #126 |
| 2014 | 31.90% | −0.18% | #125 |
| 2013 | 32.08% | +0.06% | #123 |
| 2012 | 32.03% | +0.11% | #120 |
| 2011 | 31.92% | −0.64% | #121 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tonga matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tonga's agriculture employment was 23.61% in 2025. Ranked 110th globally. This represents a 2.6% decrease from the previous year.
Tonga's agriculture employment peaked at 33.80% in 1992.
The lowest agriculture employment in Tonga was 23.61% in 2025.
Tonga ranks 110th globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Tonga's agriculture employment is projected to reach 22.68% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Tonga in 2025 was 23.61%. This ranks 110th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tonga_agriculture-employment,
title = {Tonga Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tonga/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}