Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga

Tonga: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 1.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.7%
Change on year
down 21.7%
World rank
172nd
of 185 countries
All-time high
5.2%
in 2003
All-time low
0.1%
in 1984
Years of data
9
1984–2023

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga, 1984–2023

02461984200320231984: 0.108 %1990: 4.2 %1993: 1.3 %2003: 5.2 %2006: 1.1 %2016: 1.1 %2018: 2.2 %2021: 2.1 %2023: 1.7 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga is 1.7%, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 21.7% on the previous year and up 56.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga peaked at 5.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1984.

Tonga ranks 172nd of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga, 1984 to 2023.
Year % Change
1984 0.1%
1990 4.2% +3752.8%
1993 1.3% -68.8%
2003 5.2% +298.6%
2006 1.1% -79.0%
2016 1.1% -3.0%
2018 2.2% +113.3%
2021 2.1% -6.1%
2023 1.7% -21.7%

Tonga compared with similar countries

  • Tonga's 1.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.8%, 28% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • Tonga's 1.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5%, 47% of the median. (34 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 1
1990s 2.7% 1.3% 4.2% 2
2000s 3.1% 1.1% 5.2% 2
2010s 1.7% 1.1% 2.2% 2
2020s 1.9% 1.7% 2.1% 2

Countries ranked near Tonga

  1. 169 United Arab Emirates 1.9% compare
  2. 170 Cuba 1.7% compare
  3. 171 Benin 1.7% compare
  4. 173 East Timor 1.5% compare
  5. 174 Vietnam 1.5% compare
  6. 175 Myanmar 1.5% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Tonga

All data for Tonga →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga was 1.7% in 2023, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Tonga?
The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Tonga?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1984.
How does Tonga rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Tonga ranks 172nd out of 185 countries with data for 2023.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Tonga?
Over the last ten years it is up 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Tonga data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Tonga. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/ilo-national-vs-modeled-data/tonga/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.