The migration reports produced by the Statistics Department as the main reference on volume of overseas visitors, cruise ship passengers, yacht passengers and residents movement to and from the Kingdom of Tonga. The bulletin presents information relating to number of arrivals and departures by port, passenger type, transport mode, country of citizen, purpose of travel, type of passengers, country of usual residence, and country visited.
Departure
126,866
Arrival
119,916
Total International Arrivals and Departures 2004-2022
| Year | Total Arrivals | % Change | Total Departures | % Change |
2004 |
66,639 |
- |
70,206 |
- |
2005 |
76,286 |
14.5 |
73,540 |
4.7 |
2006 |
78,652 |
3.1 |
82,268 |
11.9 |
2007 |
75,587 |
-3.9 |
83,416 |
1.4 |
2008 |
91,128 |
20.6 |
92,890 |
11.4 |
2009 |
99,803 |
9.5 |
99,360 |
7.0 |
2010 |
89,506 |
-10.3 |
90,607 |
-8.8 |
2011 |
94,960 |
6.1 |
95,607 |
5.5 |
2012 |
82,400 |
-13.2 |
83,805 |
-12.3 |
2013 |
85,473 |
3.7 |
85,134 |
1.6 |
2014 |
92,374 |
8.1 |
94,090 |
10.5 |
2015 |
104,070 |
12.7 |
105,379 |
12.0 |
2016 |
123,462 |
18.6 |
122,266 |
16.0 |
2017 |
124,703 |
1.0 |
122,970 |
0.6 |
2018 |
128,734 |
3.2 |
132,086 |
7.4 |
2019 |
136,059 |
5.7 |
139,527 |
5.6 |
2020 |
25,382 |
-81.3 |
29,306 |
-79.0 |
2021 |
1,903 |
-92.5 |
4,132 |
-85.9 |
2022 |
36,251 |
1804.9 |
36,844 |
791.7 |
| 2023 | 119,916 | 230.6 | 126,866 | 244.2 |
The table illustrates total arrivals in the Kingdom, peaking at 136,059 in 2019. The most significant increase in arrivals occurred from 2021 to 2022, with an astonishing rise of 1,804%, following the reopening of borders after Covid-19 restrictions. This was followed by a 230.2% increase from 2022 to 2023.
In terms of departures, 2019 saw 139,527 individuals leaving Tonga. The period from 2020 to 2021 experienced the highest decline in departures at 92.5%, reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on migration. However, with the reopening of borders in 2022, departures surged by 792.5%, and continued to rise by 244% in 2023.
The graph above illustrates the trend of arrivals and departures from 2013 to 2023. From 2013 to 2019, both arrivals and departures showed a steady increase, followed by a sharp decline in 2020. This decline continued into 2021 before gradually rising in 2022 and seeing a significant increase in 2023. The period from 2020 to 2022 reflects the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Tonga imposed border restrictions in 2020 and fully closed its borders in 2021, before gradually reopening in 2022.
Contact Person: Salote Latu