Tongans Migration & Diaspora

In the 1930’s the entire population of about 32,000 Tongans was spread all across the three main groupings of islands found in the Kingdom of Tonga. This began to change after WWII. Due to better educational opportunities and more jobs, many of the people of Tonga began leaving their small islands for the mainland and larger more populated islands. First people made the move from the smaller to larger islands, but as this continued and more opportunities arose, many made the decision to go outside the country to areas like New Zealand, Australia, and even as far as the United States. Though many people were leaving the country, the migration was very much needed. From the 1930’s to the 1960’s the Tongan population more than doubled, the migration allowed for a solution to possible overpopulation in the region.

Tongans that left for America mostly made their home in one of two areas, either Utah or Hawaii. This trend to hear to America only increased after the 1960’s. This was because America lowered the restrictions on non-European immigrants from entering the country. This coupled with the economic success made the migration of Tongans to the United States a very plausible and attractive offer. From the 1960’s to the late 1980’s, more than 1,900 Tongans were leaving the country each year.

The most recent census accurately depicts the vast diaspora that the Tongan people have partaken in, in its short history. Today there are an estimated 216,000 Tongans worldwide, and the Kingdom of Tonga is home to about 96,000 people. As you can see over half of the Tongans in the world are living in areas outside of their homeland. Most of the Tongans that are overseas are found in America or New Zealand, as well as a slight population in Australia. These people who have migrated overseas, usually still keep close connections with their family back in Tonga, usually sending money and supplies back to their family. This large diaspora of the Tongan people has introduced many new ways of thinking and customs to the Tongan culture, and for better or worse the western influence continually encroaches itself upon the country and its people.