MigrantoTongan Diaspora
53.2K Tongans live abroad — 51% of the population of Tonga
Tongan diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 95% of the diaspora
| 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 region
98% of the diaspora lives in Oceania
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Key facts
The Tongan diaspora in numbers
Most Tongans abroad live in New Zealand
56% of the diaspora lives in New Zealand, while the next country accounts for just 37%.
1 in 2 people born in Tonga lives abroad
53.2K people born in Tonga now live in other countries — 51.1% of a population of 104.2K.
The community in Australia is growing fastest
The number of Tongans living in Australia has grown 64% since 2015, from 11.9K to 19.5K.
Tongan diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 19954 |
| 1995 | 23967 |
| 2000 | 28245 |
| 2005 | 31622 |
| 2010 | 34619 |
| 2015 | 40233 |
| 2020 | 47094 |
| 2024 | 53237 |
Largest communities over time
Tongans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Tongans in each country has changed since the selected year
Tongans among immigrants in other countries
Where Tongans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Tongans live outside Tonga?
Around 53.2K Tongans live abroad, the world's #163 largest diaspora.
Where do most Tongans abroad live?
Most Tongans live in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 95% of all Tongans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Tongan population outside Tonga?
New Zealand is home to the largest Tongan community abroad — 30K people, about 56% of all Tongans living abroad.
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.
Is the Tongan diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Tongans living abroad has grown from 40.2K to 53.2K, about 32%.
Where does the data on the Tongan diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Tonga who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in Tonga
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