Moving to Iceland from Tonga

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Tonga to Iceland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Tonga to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from Tonga to Iceland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
1

people born in Tonga live in Iceland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How Tonga and Iceland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

TO
0.9
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TO
8.5
IS
2.4

Tonga generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

TO
$512
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

TO
10.1
IS
45.2

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tonga leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TO
24.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TO
1.6t
IS
8.5t

Tonga generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TO
8.0
IS
38.2
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

TO
67.0%
IS
100.0%

Iceland performs significantly better than Tonga across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TO
2.3%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TO
$6,600
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Tonga leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TO
77.5 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TO
12.4
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Tonga across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Tonga and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Tonga passport

Tonga passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Tonga passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Tonga

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Tonga without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

With 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Iceland can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Tonga and Iceland.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Tonga generally does better on safety, though Iceland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Tonga.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Tonga?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tonga leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 10.1 in Tonga. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Tonga: 57).

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Tonga, the official languages are English and Tongan.

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At a Glance

TO IS
Population 105,517 357,603
Currency Tongan Paʻanga (TOP) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English, Tongan Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +676 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112