Tonga Crime Rate & Safety
Homicide statistics, crime trends, and travel safety for Tonga
US State Department Travel Advisory
Exercise Normal Precautions
Updated December 2, 2024
Tonga recorded 0.9 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2019, a rate that is among the lowest in the world. That places Tonga #153 of 195 countries by homicide rate, compared with the Oceania average of 5.9 per 100,000 and a world average of 5.2. Homicide rates have fallen 87% over the past decade (from 7.5 in 2009). For travelers, the US State Department currently rates Tonga at Level 1 of 4: Exercise Normal Precautions.
Homicide Rate
0.9 /100k
Safety Rank
#43 of 195
Travel Advisory
Level 1 of 4
Data Year
2019
Homicide Rate Trend (1995-2019)
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide rates have fallen 87% over the past decade (from 7.5 in 2009). Source: UNODC via World Bank.
How Tonga Compares
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, latest available year per country.
Who Is Affected
In Tonga, the homicide rate for men is 2.1× higher than the rate for women — 3.9 vs 1.8 per 100,000 (2020).
Homicide victims per 100,000 of each sex. Source: UNODC via World Bank.
Safety for Travelers
Summary of the current US State Department advisory for Tonga:
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Tonga. Read the Country Information page for additional information on travel to Tonga. If you decide to travel to Tonga: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter . Review the Country Security Report for Tonga. U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist .
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Safety Guidance for Tonga
Practical safety information for visitors, from US State Department country information (last updated December 02, 2024).
Public Safety
Alerts regarding demonstrations and strikes, explosive device/suspicious packages, and weather-related events are posted on the embassy’s website .
Crime
Although Tonga has a low crime rate, house break-ins and property theft do occur. Though rare, sexual assaults against foreigners have occurred, including on public beaches. You should avoid going out alone at night or to isolated locations. You should not be complacent regarding your personal safety or the protection of your valuables. See our website and the FBI pages for information on scams.
Victims of Crime
U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault and other crimes are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. Report crimes to the local police at 911 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(679) 331-4466, or after hours at (679) 772-8049. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas . We can: Help you find appropriate medical care Assist you in reporting a crime to the police Contact relatives or friends with your written consent Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion Provide a list of local attorneys Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
International Financial Scams
See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.
Domestic Violence
U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Embassy for assistance. Tonga Police work with various NGOs such as the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) Tonga (telephone: 0800444) to provide shelter and counseling for abused women, girls, and boys who are under the age of 14. The Women and Children Crisis Center also has partner organizations, including the Tonga Life Line (operated by the Free Wesleyan Church), the Salvation Army, the Police Domestic Violence Unit, Ministry of Health, Tonga National Youth Congress, Ma’a Fanine mo e Famili, and Tonga Leiti Association. All offer counseling rehabilitation and programs.
Tourism
The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .
About This Data
Homicide figures are intentional homicides per 100,000 people, compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and published by the World Bank (indicator VC.IHR.PSRC.P5). Homicide is the most reliably comparable crime statistic across countries because definitions of other offences (assault, theft, robbery) vary widely between national legal systems and reporting practices.
Travel advisory levels are issued by the US Department of State and updated continuously. They reflect risks to travelers including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health, and natural disasters — not only crime rates. Countries report crime data with different lags; the most recent available year is shown for each metric.
Tonga Population & Demographics
Population of 104,175, growth trends, economy, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tonga safe to visit?
The US State Department rates Tonga at Level 1 of 4 (Exercise Normal Precautions). The homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 is among the lowest in the world.
What is the crime rate in Tonga?
Tonga has an intentional homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 people (2019, World Bank/UNODC), ranking #153 of 195 countries.
What is the US travel advisory level for Tonga?
Tonga is currently at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Advisory levels range from Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) to Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
How does crime in Tonga compare to other countries?
Tonga's homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 is below the world average of 5.2 and below the Oceania average of 5.9.