Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga
Tonga: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 30.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga, 1975–2023
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Tonga recorded 30.9% for share of food products in total merchandise exports in 2023.
The figure is down 62.1% on the previous year and down 61.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga peaked at 354.6% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 22.8%, in 2018.
Tonga ranks 58th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 95.9% | — |
| 1976 | 92.2% | -3.8% |
| 1977 | 97.7% | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 97.2% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 96.8% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 93.1% | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 88.2% | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 82.7% | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 80.0% | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 90.4% | +13.1% |
| 1985 | 86.3% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 84.7% | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 79.9% | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 49.9% | -37.6% |
| 2001 | 71.8% | +43.9% |
| 2002 | 55.3% | -23.0% |
| 2003 | 65.1% | +17.9% |
| 2004 | 46.9% | -28.0% |
| 2005 | 56.5% | +20.4% |
| 2006 | 45.6% | -19.3% |
| 2007 | 47.0% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 67.3% | +43.1% |
| 2009 | 85.9% | +27.8% |
| 2010 | 88.6% | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 64.2% | -27.5% |
| 2012 | 76.0% | +18.4% |
| 2013 | 80.6% | +6.2% |
| 2014 | 354.6% | +339.7% |
| 2017 | 30.6% | -91.4% |
| 2018 | 22.8% | -25.5% |
| 2019 | 32.0% | +40.3% |
| 2020 | 63.2% | +97.6% |
| 2021 | 75.5% | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 81.5% | +8.0% |
| 2023 | 30.9% | -62.1% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 30.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 1.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 30.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.2%, 2.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +339.7% | 80.6% | 354.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 96.0% | 92.2% | 97.7% | 5 |
| 1980s | 85.7% | 79.9% | 93.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 59.1% | 45.6% | 85.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 93.7% | 22.8% | 354.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 62.8% | 30.9% | 81.5% | 4 |
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 share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tonga was 30.9% in 2023, according to UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 354.6% in 2014.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.8% in 2018.
- How does Tonga rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Tonga ranks 58th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of food products in total merchandise exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of food exports divided by the total value of merchandise exports, expressed as a percentage.