CountryTonga
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Police, Prisons and Fire Services
Prison administration
Tonga Prison Department
Contact address
P.O. Box 828, Nuku' Alofa, Tonga
Telephone
+676 32269
Fax
+676 32145
Email
prisons@kalianet.to
Head of prison administration (and title)
Semisi Palu ’Ifoni Tapueluelu
Commissioner of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
557
at mid-2022 (via Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
516
based on an estimated national population of 108,000 at mid-2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
33.0%
(mid-2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.8%
(mid-2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
9.7%
(July 2014 - under 20)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(mid-2014)
Number of establishments / institutions
4
(2014)
Official capacity of prison system
200
(September 2013)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
81.5%
(September 2013)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 106 108
2002 110 111
2004 116 116
2006 102 101
2008 106 103
2010 159 152
2012 158 150
2000 106 108
2002 110 111
2004 116 116
2006 102 101
2008 106 103
2010 159 152
2012 158 150

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                        TONGA

Year         Number in pre-trial/remand imprisonmentPercentage of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2005
2009
2014
 
3
1
13
 
2.3%
0.6%
7.4%
 
3
1
12
 
2022
 
184
 
33.0%
 
170
 

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised.

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                   TONGA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2014

1
7
7
8

1.5%
5.5%
4.4%
5.0%

1.0
6.9
6.7
7.5

2022

21

3.8%

19.4

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column.)

Prison population total
Prison population rate