Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Development

Country Tonga flag Profile

Tonga

The 176 islands of Tonga were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific. There are three main island groups: Tongatapu in the south, Haʿapai in the centre, and Vavaʿu in the north.

Demographics

  • Population

    105,697

  • Annual births

    2,502

  • Children under five years old

    12,201

  • Under-five mortality

    17

    per 1,000 live births

ECD Indices

  • ECDI

    No data

    Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) is an overall index score capturing the percentage of children aged 36-59 months who are on track in at least three of four domains. This is currently represented in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) that assesses children aged 36-59 months in four domains: language/literacy, numeracy, physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development. Mothers or primary caregivers are asked 20 questions about the way their children behave in certain everyday situations, and the skills and knowledge they have acquired. (Click here to know more.)

  • Lifetime cost of growth deficit in early childhood

    80%

    This refers to the estimated the economic costs of poor early development by calculating the cost of child growth deficit as a percent loss of the annual adult wage in the country. (Click here to know more.)

  • Human capital index

    0.53

    The Human Capital Index is a summary measure of the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to acquire by age 18, given the risks of poor health and poor education that prevail in the country where she lives. (Click here to know more.)

Threats to early childhood development

  • Maternal mortality

    52

    per 100,000 births

  • Low birthweight

    No data

    of all births

  • Under-five stunting

    8%

    of all births

  • Child poverty

    No data

    of all births

  • Violent discipline

    No data

    of all births

  • Preterm births

    8%

    of all births

  • Young mothers (births by 18 years)

    2%

    of all births

  • Inadequate supervision

    No data

    of all births

Nurturing care

Healthcare

  • Antenatal care

    70%

  • Postnatal visits

    No data

Nutrition

  • Early initiation of breastfeeding

    79%

  • Exclusive breastfeeding

    52%

  • Minimum acceptable diet

    No data

Early learning

  • Attendance in ECD

    No data

  • Early stimulation at home

    No data

  • Children's books in the home

    No data

Security and safety

  • Birth registration

    93%

  • Positive discipline

    No data

  • Basic drinking water

    100%

  • Basic sanitation

    93%

Responsive caregiving

Enabling environments

  • Paid maternity leave

    No paid leave

  • Paid paternity leave

    No paid leave

  • Child and family social protection

    No

  • National ECD Policy

    No

  • ECD Coordination Mechanism

    No