The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were highly centralized under the Tu’i Tonga, or Tongan king, by A.D. 950, and by 1200, the Tu’i Tonga had expanded his influence throughout Polynesia and into Melanesia and Micronesia. The Tongan Empire began to decline in the 1300s, with civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife. By the mid-1500s, some Tu’i Tongans were ethnic Samoan, and day-to-day administration of Tonga was transferred to a new position occupied by ethnic Tongans.
Dutch navigators explored the islands in the 1600s, followed by the British in the 1770s, who named them the Friendly Islands. Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder. In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy. During TUPOU’s reign (1845–93), Tonga became a unified and independent country with a modern constitution (1875), legal code, and administrative structure. In separate treaties, Germany (1876), Great Britain (1879), and the US (1888) recognized Tonga’s independence. His son and successor, King George TUPOU II, agreed to enter a protectorate agreement with the UK in 1900 after rival Tongan chiefs tried to overthrow him. As a protectorate, Tonga never completely lost its indigenous governance, but it did become more isolated and the social hierarchy became more stratified between a group of nobles and a large class of commoners. Today, about one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for nobles.
Tonga regained full control of domestic and foreign affairs and became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth in 1970. A pro-democracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on reform. To appease the activists, in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010 and henceforth most of the monarch’s governmental decisions, except those relating to the judiciary, were to be made in consultation with the prime minister. The 2010 Legislative Assembly was called Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament. King George TUPOU V died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother Crown Prince Tupouto‘a Lavaka who ruled as George TUPOU VI. In 2015, ‘Akalisi POHIVA became Tonga’s first non-noble prime minister.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total : 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
comparison ranking: total 189
Area – comparative
four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
419 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain
mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
Elevation
highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use
agricultural land: 48.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 27.8% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 12.4% (2022 est.)
other: 39% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation’s 171 islands are occupied
Natural hazards
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo’ou
volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has shown frequent activity in recent years, while Niuafo’ou (260 m), which last erupted in 1985, has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
Geography – note
the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand
People and Society
Population
total: 104,889 (2024 est.)
male: 52,606
female: 52,283
comparison rankings: total 191; female 194; male 191
Nationality
noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups
Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)
Languages
Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)
note: data represent language use at home of persons aged 5 and older
Religions
Protestant 63.9% (Free Wesleyan Church 34.2%, Free Church of Tonga 11.3%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assembly of God 2.5%, Tokaikolo/Maamafo’ou 1.5%, Constitutional Church of Tonga 1.2%, other Protestant 4%), Church of Jesus Christ 19.7%, Roman Catholic 13.7%, other 2.1%, none 0.6%, no answer 0.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 29.3% (male 15,627/female 15,142)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 33,445/female 32,867)
65 years and over: 7.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,534/female 4,274)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 58.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 46.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 25.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.4 years
comparison ranking: total 166
Population growth rate
-0.34% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 213
Birth rate
19.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 71
Death rate
5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 195
Net migration rate
-18.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 227
Population distribution
over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation’s 171 islands are occupied
Urbanization
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
23,000 NUKU’ALOFA (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
24.9 years (2012 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
126 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 61
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 111
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78 years (2024 est.)
male: 76.4 years
female: 79.7 years
comparison ranking: total population 84
Total fertility rate
2.65 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 62
Gross reproduction rate
1.3 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
29.3% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.8% of population
rural: 99.6% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.2% of population
rural: 0.4% of population
total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
6.3% of GDP (2021)
8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 99.4% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.6% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
48.2% (2016)
comparison ranking: 7
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 169
Tobacco use
total: 30.5% (2025 est.)
male: 46.1% (2025 est.)
female: 15.8% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 19
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.8% (2019)
comparison ranking: 111
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 0.4% (2019)
women married by age 18: 10.1% (2019)
men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019)
Education expenditure
5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
9.3% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 53
Literacy
total population: 91.1% (2019 est.)
male: 83.8% (2019 est.)
female: 97.6% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Land use
agricultural land: 48.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 27.8% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 15.3% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2022 est.)
forest: 12.4% (2022 est.)
other: 39% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 7.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.13 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,238 tons (2012 est.)
Total renewable water resources
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule’anga Fakatu’i ‘o Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands
etymology: the name is of local origin and is said to mean “island;” the former name, the Friendly Islands, came from Captain James COOK in 1773, based on the welcome he received from the inhabitants
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Nuku’alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
etymology: name is said to be composed of the local words nuku, meaning “residence or abode,” and alofa, meaning “love;” it may also mean “the south,” describing Tonga’s position in relation to most other Polynesian islands
Administrative divisions
5 island divisions; ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava’u
Legal system
English common law
Constitution
history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
amendment process: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Aisake Valu EKE (since 22 January 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch
most recent election date: 24 December 2024
election results:
2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minsiter by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
2021: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10
note: a Privy Council advises the monarch
Legislative branch
legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/18/2021
percentage of women in chamber: 10%
expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates’ Courts; Land Courts
note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are brought before the King in Privy Council, the monarch’s advisory organ that has both judicial and legislative powers
Political parties
Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA
Tonga People’s Party (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) or PAK or TPPI
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
email address and website:
[email protected]
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note – Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Tonga as well as Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
embassy: although the US opened an embassy in Tonga on 9 May 2023, the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga while the Embassy is being staffed
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday
Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note – actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
Flag description
red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ’s blood and sacrifice, and white for purity
National symbol(s)
red cross on white field
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Tonga:
National color(s)
red, white
National anthem
name: “Ko e fasi `o e tu”i `o e `Otu Tonga” (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as “Fasi Fakafonua” (National Song)
Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$724.972 million (2022 est.)
$742.114 million (2021 est.)
$739.433 million (2020 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 211
Real GDP growth rate
-2.31% (2022 est.)
0.36% (2021 est.)
0.49% (2020 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 208
Real GDP per capita
$6,900 (2022 est.)
$7,000 (2021 est.)
$7,000 (2020 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 159
GDP (official exchange rate)
$518.18 million (2022 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.2% (2024 est.)
6.4% (2023 est.)
11% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 104
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 15.6% (2022 est.)
industry: 15.5% (2022 est.)
services: 51.8% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 134; industry 166; agriculture 54
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 77.9% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 30% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.2% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.4% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services: 11.6% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services: -63.8% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate
-12.25% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 212
Labor force
34,800 (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 193
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
2.3% (2023 est.)
2.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 23
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 6.3% (2024 est.)
male: 3.9% (2024 est.)
female: 10% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 162
Population below poverty line
20.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
27.1 (2021 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 142
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 22% (2021 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
41.94% of GDP (2022 est.)
41.98% of GDP (2021 est.)
38.23% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $215.007 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $160.257 million (2020 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
43.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 101
Taxes and other revenues
23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 53
Current account balance
-$21.165 million (2024 est.)
-$30.087 million (2023 est.)
-$27.749 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 91
Exports
$119.511 million (2024 est.)
$95.345 million (2023 est.)
$59.926 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 211
Exports – partners
Guyana 17%, USA 17%, NZ 15%, Australia 15%, UAE 12% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$392.888 million (2024 est.)
$383.475 million (2023 est.)
$330.306 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 207
Imports – partners
Fiji 27%, NZ 24%, China 21%, Australia 8%, USA 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$396.53 million (2023 est.)
$375.564 million (2022 est.)
$361.812 million (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 175
Debt – external
$159.276 million (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 122
Exchange rates
pa’anga (TOP) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
2.364 (2023 est.)
2.328 (2022 est.)
2.265 (2021 est.)
2.3 (2020 est.)
2.289 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 34,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 11; consumption 202; installed generating capacity 200
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 204
Energy consumption per capita
23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 129
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 185
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 64,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 203
Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia available via satellite (2019)
Internet country code
.to
Internet users
percent of population: 59% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 9,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total 187
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A3
Airports
6 (2025)
comparison ranking: 175
Merchant marine
total: 29 (2023)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14
comparison ranking: total 136
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai
Military and Security
Military and security forces
His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga (HMAF; aka Tonga Defense Services): Tonga Royal Guard, Tonga Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Air Wing
Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures
1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military’s inventory consists of light weapons, as well as some naval patrol vessels from Australia and a few US-origin aircraft (2024)
Military service age and obligation
voluntary military service for men and women 18-25; no conscription (2023)
Military – note
the HMAF’s primary missions are protecting the King and Tonga’s sovereignty; it is also responsible for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue operations, monitoring against illegal fishing, and delivering supplies to the outer islands; the HMAF has contributed limited numbers of personnel to multinational military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands; it is a small force comprised of royal guards, marines, a few naval patrol boats, and a couple of aircraft for maritime patrolling, search and rescue, and training purposes
Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF); Tongan troops deployed to Iraq from 2004-2008 and Afghanistan to support UK forces from 2010-2014
Tonga has a “shiprider” agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tonga’s designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; “shiprider” agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2024)
