Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Tonga
Tonga: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 56.1% in 2014. ▼ Falling
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Tonga, 1975–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Tonga is 56.1%, measured in 2014.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Tonga peaked at 81.3% in 1979 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 1996.
That places Tonga 55th out of 193 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 47.1% | — |
| 1976 | 46.1% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 51.5% | +11.8% |
| 1978 | 60.2% | +16.8% |
| 1979 | 81.3% | +35.1% |
| 1980 | 64.4% | -20.8% |
| 1981 | 69.0% | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 67.3% | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 61.7% | -8.4% |
| 1984 | 64.2% | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 68.9% | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 58.4% | -15.1% |
| 1987 | 58.7% | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 59.0% | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 56.1% | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 58.9% | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 49.6% | -15.8% |
| 1992 | 45.6% | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 44.5% | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 35.8% | -19.6% |
| 1995 | 38.2% | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 34.0% | -10.9% |
| 1997 | 34.3% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 36.5% | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 37.4% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 43.8% | +17.2% |
| 2001 | 44.2% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 47.9% | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 48.8% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 49.8% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 49.4% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 48.2% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 52.5% | +8.8% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 46.5% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 54.8% | +17.9% |
| 2011 | 45.8% | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 49.0% | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 55.4% | +13.2% |
| 2014 | 56.1% | +1.3% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 56.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 1.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 56.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 50.8%, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 57.2% | 46.1% | 81.3% | 5 |
| 1980s | 62.8% | 56.1% | 69.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 41.5% | 34.0% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.9% | 43.8% | 52.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.2% | 45.8% | 56.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.25 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0019 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -12.08 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -560.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0187 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -115.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 9.39 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Tonga?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Tonga was 56.1% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 81.3% in 1979.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 1996.
- How does Tonga rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Tonga ranks 55th out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.