Tonga is located in Polynesia, and its capital is Nuku'alofa. It has a population of approximately 104,175 and covers an area of about 750 km². Its official currency is the Tongan paʻanga (TOP).
What stands out
People & place
139 /km² across 750 km²
Tonga has a recorded population of 104,175 and a reported surface area of 750 km².
Economic snapshot
$591.1 million nominal GDP
Nominal GDP is recorded at $591.1 million and GDP per capita at $5,652 for 2023. These measures do not describe income distribution or household wealth.
Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific, the last remaining monarchy among the Pacific island nations. Spread across more than 170 islands, it is sometimes called the Friendly Islands, a name given by Captain Cook. Proud of never having been formally colonised, Tonga maintains a strong sense of tradition, faith and royal heritage.
The kingdom comprises over 170 islands grouped into clusters, of which several dozen are inhabited. Some are low coral islands and others are volcanic and mountainous, set in a region of intense seismic and volcanic activity. The capital, Nukualofa, lies on the main island of Tongatapu. The climate is tropical and warm.
Tongan society places great value on respect, family, the church and the monarchy. Traditional crafts such as tapa cloth and woven mats remain important in ceremony and gift-giving, and rugby is a national passion. Sunday is widely observed as a day of rest and worship.
Settled by Polynesians around three thousand years ago, Tonga became a powerful maritime empire in the medieval Pacific. It united under a single monarchy in the 19th century and, although it accepted British protection for a time, it was never fully colonised, regaining full sovereignty in 1970.
Key facts
Tonga is the only sovereign monarchy among the Pacific island nations.
Captain James Cook nicknamed it the Friendly Islands.
It was never formally colonised by a European power.
Rugby is the national sport and a major source of pride.
This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.
Population, area and economic figures use the latest available values from World Bank Open Data; reporting years can vary by country. See sources and methodology for indicator definitions, mapping attribution, and editorial limitations.
Tonga has a recorded population of approximately 104,175 people.
How big is Tonga?
Tonga covers an area of about 750 km².
What is the population density of Tonga?
Tonga has a population density of roughly 139 /km² (people per square kilometre).
What is the GDP of Tonga?
Tonga has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $591.1 million as of 2023.
What is the GDP per capita of Tonga?
Tonga has a GDP per capita of approximately $5,652.
What currency is used in Tonga?
Tonga uses the Tongan paʻanga (TOP), with the symbol $.
Where is Tonga located?
Tonga is located in Polynesia, Oceania.
What are people from Tonga called?
People from Tonga are referred to as Tongan.
What is the phone calling code for Tonga?
The international dialing code for Tonga is +676.
What is the internet domain for Tonga?
The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Tonga is .to.
What time zone is Tonga in?
Tonga uses the Pacific/Tongatapu time zone.
What is Tonga known for?
Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific, the last remaining monarchy among the Pacific island nations. Spread across more than 170 islands, it is sometimes called the Friendly Islands, a name given by Captain Cook. Proud of never having been formally colonised, Tonga maintains a strong sense of tradition, faith and royal heritage.
Polynesia
