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
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.