Tonga

Year

DEMOGRAPHICS, GENDER AND POVERTY

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Ministry of Health
P.O. Box 59, Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga
Tel:(676) 23 200
Fax:(676) 24 291
mohtonga@kalianet.to
Country Liaison Officer in Tonga
Ministry of Health
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
P.O. Box 70, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Tel:(676) 23217 / 25522
Fax:(676) 23 938
Office hours:0830 - 1630 (Monday to Friday)
who@ton.wpro.who.int

According to the 1996 census (next census 2006), the projected population for 2004 is 101 865, with a population density of 156.7 per square kilometre. About 33% of the population live in urban settings, although the differences between rural and urban living conditions are not clearly defined. The fertility rate fell from 4.1 to 3.4 between 1986 and 2003. The comparatively slow population growth of 0.3% is explained by the high net emigration rate of 19.8% between 1986 and 1996. About 37.91% (38 617) of the population is below 15 years of age. It is estimated that more than 50 000 Tongans live abroad, mainly in Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

All children attend primary school and the literacy rate is 98.8%. Secondary education is in English. The education rate is similar for both genders, but the number of women in leading positions is still limited. There are no female members of parliament. Tonga has not signed the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The standard of living has improved dramatically over the last 50 years and there is little absolute poverty today. However, many families still live at subsistence levels and are dependent for food security on what they can produce on their farmland. It has been estimated that about 4% of the population live on less than US$1.00 per day. Since poverty is a relative term and has a major impact on health outcomes, the Government uses the term ‘hardship’ to describe economically disadvantaged groups. Hardship is defined as “having difficulties in meeting basic needs, such as education and transport”. When translated into monetary terms, hardship is the equivalent of living on less than TOP 28.17 (US$ 14.79) per week (indexed value), and today an estimated 23% of the population falls into that category. Most people experiencing hardship live on the outer islands, where access to education and health care is poor and transport costs are high.

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