Tonga Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Tonga's unemployment rate was 2.01% in 2025, ranked 17th globally. This represents a 2.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Tonga's unemployment rate stood at 2.01% in 2025, a rise of +0.04pp from 2024. Tonga ranked 17th globally.
Tonga’s unemployment rate has risen modestly to 2.01 % in 2025, placing the kingdom 17th in the world according to World Bank data and positioning it just above peers such as Togo (2.00 %) and the Russian Federation (2.13 %). Over the 35‑year series, the island nation’s labor market has been relatively tight; the all‑time peak of 5.18 % occurred in 2003, while the lowest point of 1.09 % was recorded in 2006, reflecting a post‑crisis contraction and subsequent recovery. The recent increase follows a gradual upward drift since the mid‑2000s, driven by limited diversification of the economy and modest population growth, yet it remains well below the regional averages for developing Pacific states. If structural reforms expand tourism and fisheries value chains, the unemployment trajectory could stabilise or even decline, whereas external shocks such as climate‑related disruptions would likely reverse the modest gains achieved in recent years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.01% | +0.04pp | #17 |
| 2024 | 1.97% | +0.31pp | #18 |
| 2023 | 1.65% | −0.35pp | #16 |
| 2022 | 2.00% | −0.11pp | #17 |
| 2021 | 2.11% | −0.60pp | #15 |
| 2020 | 2.71% | +0.55pp | #21 |
| 2019 | 2.17% | −0.08pp | #20 |
| 2018 | 2.25% | +0.11pp | #22 |
| 2017 | 2.14% | +0.09pp | #18 |
| 2016 | 2.05% | +0.03pp | #20 |
| 2015 | 2.02% | +0.11pp | #19 |
| 2014 | 1.91% | +0.16pp | #17 |
| 2013 | 1.75% | +0.11pp | #14 |
| 2012 | 1.64% | +0.04pp | #13 |
| 2011 | 1.59% | +0.09pp | #13 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Tonga matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Tonga's unemployment rate was 2.01% in 2025. Ranked 17th globally. This represents a 2.2% increase from the previous year.
Tonga's unemployment rate peaked at 5.18% in 2003.
The lowest unemployment rate in Tonga was 1.09% in 2006.
Tonga ranks 17th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Tonga in 2025 was 2.01%. This ranks 17th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_tonga_unemployment-rate,
title = {Tonga Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/tonga/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}