Tonga Celebrates World Statistics Day 2025
The Tonga Statistics Department marked World Statistics Day 2025 on Monday, October 20, with a significant event at Likuʻalofa Resort in Tofoa, launching the Preliminary Key Indicators Report from the 2024 Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). Under the global theme “Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone,” the celebration brought together government officials, development partners and students to examine critical data revealing both progress and challenges facing Tongan communities.
The morning ceremony, which began with a traditional Faifekau prayer at 10:00 am, set a reflective tone for the day’s proceedings. Government Statistician Mr. Sione Lolohea delivered welcoming remarks, emphasizing the vital role of quality statistics in shaping evidence-based policies for Tonga’s future.
The highlight of the event was the launch of the Tonga MICS 2024 Key Indicators Report, presented by the Census and Survey Division. This comprehensive survey, conducted in partnership with UNICEF, Australian Aid, UNFPA, and the Pacific Community (SPC), represents only the second MICS undertaken in Tonga, following the 2019 survey.
The Tonga MICS 2024 Key Indicators Report revealed five critical areas demanding urgent attention:
- a troubling violence crisis affecting women and children across communities
- significant education attrition threatening the country’s human capital development
- mixed health outcomes with notable successes but persistent gaps in maternal, newborn, child, and adult health services
- evolving family structure challenges that are placing traditional support systems under pressure
- pervasive equity gaps across geographic, economic, and social dimensions that prevent all Tongans from having equal access to opportunities and services.
These findings provide a clear roadmap for policymakers to address the most pressing issues facing Tongan society and work toward ensuring quality of life improvements for all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable populations.
Following the presentation, a vote of thanks was given before guests moved on to explore the interactive booths set up by each division of the Tonga Statistics Department. The booths featured engaging games, practical tools, informative maps, organizational structures and many more innovative ways that showcased each division’s purpose, responsibilities, and role within the office. This hands-on component allowed attendees to not only to win a lot of free giveaways but also gain a deeper understanding of how statistical work is conducted across different areas and fostered meaningful dialogue between Tonga Statistics Department staff and stakeholders.
As Tonga moves forward from World Statistics Day 2025, the MICS 2019 and 2024 findings serve as both a roadmap and a call to action. The data provides clear evidence of where interventions are most needed – from addressing the violence crisis to closing equity gaps and supporting families through social change.
The event demonstrated that quality statistics are more than just numbers; they are powerful tools for understanding communities, identifying vulnerabilities, and crafting solutions that can improve lives. With high response rates and comprehensive coverage across all island groups, the 2024 MICS provides Tonga with a solid foundation for evidence-based policymaking in the years ahead.
For the Tonga Statistics Department and its partners, World Statistics Day 2025 was not merely a celebration of data collection, but a commitment to ensuring that quality statistics truly serve everyone – particularly those most in need of support and protection.
The MICS 2024 report with detailed analysis and recommendations is expected to be released following the completion of final reviews and audits.
