External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Tonga
Tonga: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -43.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
-43.8%
Change on year
up 12.7%
World rank
182nd
of 191 countries
All-time high
-23.3%
in 1977
All-time low
-50.5%
in 1983
Years of data
50
1975–2024
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Tonga, 1975–2024
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Tonga is -43.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 12.7% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Tonga peaked at -23.3% in 1977 and was at its lowest, -50.5%, in 1983.
That places Tonga 182nd out of 191 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -29.5% | — |
| 1976 | -29.7% | +0.7% |
| 1977 | -23.3% | -21.5% |
| 1978 | -39.1% | +67.7% |
| 1979 | -43.7% | +11.9% |
| 1980 | -37.7% | -13.9% |
| 1981 | -41.9% | +11.2% |
| 1982 | -37.0% | -11.5% |
| 1983 | -50.5% | +36.4% |
| 1984 | -36.3% | -28.0% |
| 1985 | -42.1% | +15.8% |
| 1986 | -44.2% | +4.9% |
| 1987 | -33.7% | -23.7% |
| 1988 | -44.0% | +30.7% |
| 1989 | -37.7% | -14.3% |
| 1990 | -31.2% | -17.2% |
| 1991 | -37.7% | +20.6% |
| 1992 | -25.3% | -32.7% |
| 1993 | -27.7% | +9.1% |
| 1994 | -28.6% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | -37.2% | +30.1% |
| 1996 | -37.6% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | -30.1% | -19.9% |
| 1998 | -39.1% | +29.8% |
| 1999 | -29.3% | -25.2% |
| 2000 | -31.1% | +6.2% |
| 2001 | -35.7% | +14.8% |
| 2002 | -37.3% | +4.6% |
| 2003 | -34.4% | -7.7% |
| 2004 | -34.8% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | -40.5% | +16.3% |
| 2006 | -37.2% | -8.1% |
| 2007 | -43.8% | +17.6% |
| 2008 | -40.7% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | -47.1% | +15.8% |
| 2010 | -45.8% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | -46.4% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | -43.9% | -5.4% |
| 2013 | -42.1% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | -40.9% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | -47.5% | +16.1% |
| 2016 | -38.8% | -18.3% |
| 2017 | -43.7% | +12.7% |
| 2018 | -43.7% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -43.6% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | -42.4% | -2.6% |
| 2021 | -46.4% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | -48.6% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | -50.1% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | -43.8% | -12.7% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's -43.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -4.0%, 10.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Tonga's -43.8% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -9.4%, 4.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -33.1% | -43.7% | -23.3% | 5 |
| 1980s | -40.5% | -50.5% | -33.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | -32.4% | -39.1% | -25.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -38.3% | -47.1% | -31.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -43.6% | -47.5% | -38.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | -46.3% | -50.1% | -42.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 179 Cuba -39.9% compare
- 180 Palau -40.4% compare
- 181 Nauru -41.9% compare
- 183 Marshall Islands -43.8% compare
- 184 Northern Mariana Islands -48.6% compare
- 185 Micronesia (country) -48.8% compare
More economy & growth data for Tonga
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.3875 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.2 Percent per annum (2029)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0382 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 250.19 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.3665 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0279 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 182.69 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0209 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Tonga?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Tonga was -43.8% in 2024, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was -23.3% in 1977.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was -50.5% in 1983.
- How does Tonga rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Tonga ranks 182nd out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.