Education Spending: Tonga

Analysis# Tonga Education Spending Tonga allocated 5.31% of its GDP to education in 2022, representing a modest recovery from its recent low point. This figure remains substantially below the nation's peak of 10.347% in 1984, marking a decline of 48.7% over nearly four decades. Since the early 2000s, when spending hit 3.795% of GDP in 2002, Tonga has gradually increased its education investment, though still far from historical levels. A clear upward trend emerged after 2001, with consistent annual growth from 4.478% to 5.31% between 2001 and 2022. The acceleration became more pronounced starting in 2019, gaining momentum through the pandemic years. If this recent trajectory continues, Tonga may sustain educational funding above 5%, though achieving pre-1990s commitment levels would require substantial policy shifts.