Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga
Tonga: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 215.67 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga, 1971–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga is 215.67 million current US$, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.5% on the previous year and up 155.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga peaked at 215.67 million current US$ in 2021 and was at its lowest, 607,910 current US$, in 1972.
Tonga ranks 138th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 793,770 current US$ | — |
| 1972 | 607,910 current US$ | -23.4% |
| 1973 | 2.06 million current US$ | +239.2% |
| 1974 | 4.51 million current US$ | +118.9% |
| 1975 | 6.69 million current US$ | +48.3% |
| 1976 | 5.37 million current US$ | -19.7% |
| 1977 | 5.54 million current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 6.06 million current US$ | +9.3% |
| 1979 | 6.57 million current US$ | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 7.09 million current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 7.60 million current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 8.12 million current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1983 | 16.48 million current US$ | +102.9% |
| 1984 | 13.46 million current US$ | -18.3% |
| 1985 | 21.87 million current US$ | +62.4% |
| 1986 | 20.87 million current US$ | -4.6% |
| 1987 | 22.39 million current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 16.61 million current US$ | -25.8% |
| 1989 | 14.87 million current US$ | -10.5% |
| 1990 | 23.96 million current US$ | +61.1% |
| 1991 | 18.76 million current US$ | -21.7% |
| 1992 | 21.33 million current US$ | +13.7% |
| 1993 | 20.96 million current US$ | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 52.81 million current US$ | +151.9% |
| 2002 | 62.20 million current US$ | +17.8% |
| 2003 | 58.58 million current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2004 | 65.45 million current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 68.96 million current US$ | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 78.00 million current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2007 | 81.80 million current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 103.48 million current US$ | +26.5% |
| 2009 | 81.92 million current US$ | -20.8% |
| 2010 | 74.03 million current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 84.34 million current US$ | +13.9% |
| 2012 | 91.25 million current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2013 | 122.68 million current US$ | +34.4% |
| 2014 | 119.29 million current US$ | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 129.28 million current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 126.23 million current US$ | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 158.60 million current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2018 | 173.44 million current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2019 | 181.65 million current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 189.97 million current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 215.67 million current US$ | +13.5% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 215.67 million current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 979.33 million current US$, 22% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 215.67 million current US$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 453.09 million current US$, 48% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +239.2% | 607,910 current US$ | 2.06 million current US$ |
| 2001 | +151.9% | 20.96 million current US$ | 52.81 million current US$ |
| 1974 | +118.9% | 2.06 million current US$ | 4.51 million current US$ |
| 1983 | +102.9% | 8.12 million current US$ | 16.48 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.25 million current US$ | 607,910 current US$ | 6.69 million current US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 14.94 million current US$ | 7.09 million current US$ | 22.39 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.26 million current US$ | 18.76 million current US$ | 23.96 million current US$ | 4 |
| 2000s | 72.58 million current US$ | 52.81 million current US$ | 103.48 million current US$ | 9 |
| 2010s | 126.08 million current US$ | 74.03 million current US$ | 181.65 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 202.82 million current US$ | 189.97 million current US$ | 215.67 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 135 Trinidad and Tobago 233.99 million current US$ compare
- 136 Benin 230.91 million current US$ compare
- 137 Laos 219.52 million current US$ compare
- 139 Guinea-Bissau 206.11 million current US$ compare
- 140 Mozambique 201.87 million current US$ compare
- 141 Vanuatu 199.83 million current US$ compare
More reference data data for Tonga
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0105 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0197 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0197 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0353 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0269 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0446 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1068 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0799 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 9.35 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Tonga was 215.67 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 215.67 million current US$ in 2021.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 607,910 current US$ in 1972.
- How does Tonga rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Tonga ranks 138th out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 155.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.