Central government spending as share of GDP in Tonga
Tonga: Central government spending as share of GDP was 34.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Central government spending as share of GDP in Tonga, 2013–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government spending as share of gdp in Tonga is 34.7%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% on the previous year and up 25.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government spending as share of gdp in Tonga peaked at 40.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 2013.
Tonga ranks 35th of 157 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Central government spending as share of GDP in Tonga, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 27.7% | — |
| 2014 | 30.4% | +9.9% |
| 2015 | 30.2% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 31.1% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 31.9% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 31.1% | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 30.6% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 31.5% | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 36.0% | +14.3% |
| 2022 | 40.0% | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 34.7% | -13.3% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 34.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25.9%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 34.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 26.6%, 1.3× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 30.4% | 27.7% | 31.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 35.5% | 31.5% | 40.0% | 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 central government spending as share of gdp in Tonga?
- Central government spending as share of gdp in Tonga was 34.7% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest central government spending as share of gdp recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 2013.
- How does Tonga rank for central government spending as share of gdp?
- Tonga ranks 35th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tonga data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD, and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central government expense (cash payments for operating activities of the government in providing goods and services), as share of GDP. It excludes capital investment, such as infrastructure or equipment.