Tongans are Polynesian, closely related to Samoans and Niueans. The population is around 100,000, though this figure fluctuates — emigration to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States is high, and remittances from the diaspora are a significant part of the economy. You'll meet Tongans who have relatives in Auckland or Salt Lake City as readily as those who've never left the islands.
Christianity is central to Tongan life, not just culturally but legally. The Free Wesleyan Church is the largest denomination, followed by the LDS (Mormon) Church — which has a notable presence here — and the Roman Catholic Church. Sunday is genuinely a day of rest: most businesses close, alcohol is not served in many places, and swimming in public is technically discouraged. Visitors are expected to respect this.
Tongan society is hierarchical. The nobility holds formal political power alongside elected commoner representatives, and the king remains a figure of genuine authority. Family and church are the organising pillars of daily life. Extended family obligations — contributing to church fundraisers, supporting relatives — take precedence over individual accumulation in ways that visitors may notice.
Tonga was never colonised, which Tongans are quietly proud of. This independence has shaped a national character that is welcoming to visitors without being deferential. English is widely spoken and taught in schools alongside Tongan.