Tongans

Tongans are the indigenous people of the Kingdom of Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago in the South Pacific. The nation comprises about 170 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. The population is around 100,000 in Tonga, with a sizeable diaspora in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and other countries.

The Tongan language (faka-Tonga) is a member of the Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. English is also widely spoken and taught in schools, making many Tongans bilingual, especially in urban areas and among the diaspora.

Historically, Tongans trace settlement to Polynesian navigators and developed a centralized chiefly system under the Tu'i Kanokupolu line in the 18th–19th centuries. Tonga became a British protected state in 1900 and gained full independence in 1970. It is now a constitutional monarchy with a king and an elected parliament.

Culturally, family and communal life play central roles. Traditional arts include ngatu (tapa cloth), weaving, carving, and woodwork. Cultural performances such as the lakalaka and tau’olunga dances are significant features of Tongan heritage. Traditional tattooing remains noted in some communities, though practices vary.

Religion strongly shapes daily life; the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is the largest denomination, alongside other Christian groups such as Catholics and Latter-day Saints.

The economy relies on remittances from Tongans abroad, agriculture (root crops and coconuts), fisheries, and growing tourism. The diaspora maintains strong ties to land, language, and cultural practices, influencing life in both Tonga and overseas communities.