Stat of the week: Household expenditure in Tonga. 

In 2021, Tongan households spent 33% of their total expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages. It’s 45% if meals eaten outside the home are included. 

That means nearly half of household budgets go towards food, including essential items like staple foods, protein, fruit, and vegetables, highlighting the central role food costs play in the nutrition and welfare of Tongan families.

 Understanding how households allocate resources is key to shaping policies on food security, the cost of living, and social protection across the Pacific.

Data from the 2021 Household Income and Expenditure Survey: https://bit.ly/48IRvmI