Tonga's population drops to 100,209 [1]
Friday, December 24, 2021 - 15:47
By Eleanor Gee
Tonga’s national population has dropped by 442 people since 2016, a preliminary count of Tonga's National Population Census for 2021 shows.
In releasing the preliminary figures on December 24, the Government Statistician Viliami Fifita said the census accounted for 100,209 people in Tonga, a decrease by 0.4 percent from 100,651 people recorded in the population census of 2016.
According to the census, the majority of Tonga's population currently resides on Tongatapu 74,454 (74%), followed by Vava'u 14,283 (14%), Ha'apai 5,419 (5%), 'Eua 4,903 (5%), and Ongo Niua 1,150 (1%).
Vava'u was the only island group that increased in population by 3.9% from 13,738 in 2016 to 14,283 in 2021, while the remaining island groups all decreased, with the largest drop in Ha'apai from 6,125 in 2016 to 5,419 in 2021.
The number of males in Tonga has also dropped since the last count from 50,255 to 48,777 (48.7%) while the number of females has increased from 50,396 to 51,432 (51.3%).
Seasonal workers
There are a number of factors contributing to the drop in population, including the seasonal workers programs in Australia and New Zealand, people migrating overseas, and people stuck overseas due to COVID-19 and border restrictions.
Despite the border closures, seasonal workers have been able to leave Tonga to go and work overseas.
Only 1,674 seasonal workers have been repatriated since the border restrictions began last March, however, 3,160 left Tonga to work overseas, confirmed Viliami.
Only 144 seasonal workers have left Tonga to work in New Zealand since Tonga's border closed.
"To date, there are 4,834 Tongan seasonal workers in Australia," he said.
Most of the seasonal workers overseas are male which has contributed to the drop in the number of males in Tonga at the time of the census, he said.
The census was conducted on November 30, and included a questionnaire with employment, income and poverty indicators. The full results are expected by mid-2022.