MigrantoTongan Diaspora
53.2K Tongans live abroad — the #163 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 95% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 29981 |
| Australia | 19464 |
| Fiji | 1389 |
| American Samoa | 1296 |
| Guinea | 901 |
| Samoa | 57 |
| Niue | 47 |
| Vanuatu | 31 |
| Papua New Guinea | 26 |
| Denmark | 18 |
| Micronesia | 17 |
| Norway | 6 |
| Hungary | 2 |
| Iceland | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 0 |
| Estonia | 0 |
| Finland | 0 |
| Bolivia | 0 |
By destination region
Oceania is the leading destination region at 98%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Tonga.
New Zealand is the primary destination for emigrants
New Zealand attracts 56% of all emigrants from Tonga, while the second-largest destination receives just 37%.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 2 residents of Tonga has emigrated — 53.2K out of 104.2K, representing 51.1% of the population.
Australia is the fastest-growing major destination
Emigration to Australia has increased by 64% since 2015, rising from 11.9K to 19.5K in 9 years.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 19954 |
| 1995 | 23967 |
| 2000 | 28245 |
| 2005 | 31622 |
| 2010 | 34619 |
| 2015 | 40233 |
| 2020 | 47094 |
| 2024 | 53237 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | New Zealand | Australia | Fiji | American Samoa | Guinea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10170 | 7089 | 1221 | 1304 | 0 |
| 1995 | 13577 | 7731 | 1203 | 1223 | 0 |
| 2000 | 17509 | 8114 | 1199 | 1142 | 0 |
| 2005 | 20188 | 8716 | 1204 | 1217 | 0 |
| 2010 | 21722 | 10092 | 1293 | 1291 | 0 |
| 2015 | 24561 | 11862 | 1332 | 1288 | 972 |
| 2020 | 28005 | 15295 | 1362 | 1292 | 932 |
| 2024 | 29981 | 19464 | 1389 | 1296 | 901 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Tonga as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Tonga
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Tongans move to?
Most Tongans have moved to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 95% of all Tongans living abroad.
How many Tongans live abroad?
Around 53.2K Tongans live abroad, making it the #163-largest emigrant population in the world.
What share of the population of Tonga lives abroad?
About 51% of the population of Tonga lives abroad — that's 53.2K out of a total population of 104.2K.
How has emigration from Tonga changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Tonga has grown from 40.2K to 53.2K people, a growth of about 32%.
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