Tonga

Islam in Tonga is a very small minority religion, with a minimal but slowly growing presence in this Polynesian island nation.

1. Muslim Population

  • Muslims make up less than 1% of Tonga’s total population (approximately 100,000 people).
  • The Muslim community consists of around 100–200 individuals.
  • Most Muslims in Tonga are converts from the local Tongan population, while a few are immigrants from countries such as Fiji, Pakistan, and other parts of Asia.

2. History of Islam in Tonga

  • Islam was introduced to Tonga in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily through the efforts of Ahmadiyya Muslim missionaries.
  • The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the first organized Islamic group to establish itself in Tonga.
  • In recent years, Sunni Muslims, including some migrants and students, have also settled in Tonga and contributed to the Muslim presence.

3. Religious Practices
There is at least one mosque located in the capital city, Nukuʻalofa, serving as the main Islamic center. The small Muslim community observes:

  • Daily prayers (Salah).
  • Ramadan fasting.
  • Eid celebrations (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha).

Islamic gatherings and religious lessons are held, but due to the small number of Muslims, these are modest and community-centered.

4. Islamic Organizations

  • The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remains the most organized Islamic group in Tonga.
  • Sunni Muslims also hold informal gatherings for prayer and religious study.
  • There is limited access to halal food, Islamic books, or scholars, but efforts are made to maintain Islamic practices.

5. Social and Cultural Role

  • Islam has minimal visibility in Tonga’s public life.
  • The country is predominantly Christian (98%), especially Methodist and Roman Catholic.
  • Despite the small numbers, Muslims are generally free to practice their faith, as Tonga’s constitution guarantees religious freedom.
  • Interfaith relations are peaceful, but public awareness of Islam is low.

6. Challenges
Muslims in Tonga face:

  • Lack of Islamic infrastructure (few mosques or schools).
  • Isolation from larger Muslim communities, which makes access to Islamic education and resources difficult.
  • Cultural and societal pressure from the deeply Christian environment.
  • Limited availability of halal food and Islamic materials.

7. Fun Fact
Tonga is one of the few Pacific nations where the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the first to introduce Islam, unlike most other countries where Sunni Islam arrived first.

Tonga
Country Code Top-Level Domain: .to
Country Code: +676