The Tongan Government is planning stimulus packages aimed at poor households to help alleviate the difficulties of COVID-19.

To determine those that are applicable for the stimulus packages, the Statistics Department have conducted verification survey fieldwork (April – May 2021) to update Tonga’s poverty status for 2021.

This fieldwork is the latest of the department’s work in regards to this COVID-19 response, to ensure the minimization of errors for the poverty status. It is to adjust for the dynamic nature of poverty as the HIES 2016 was used to measure poverty and the Population Census 2016 to estimate poverty.

After processing results from this phase of the work, Statistics Department will shortly commence Phase 2 which will allow the public an opportunity to submit to the department their applications to be assessed if they are eligible to be included.