The +676 country code connects you to Tonga, a Polynesian kingdom of around 170 islands scattered across the South Pacific. About 100,000 people live in Tonga, most of them on the main island of Tongatapu where the capital Nuku'alofa sits. Tonga is the only Pacific Island nation that was never colonized by a European power, and the monarchy has been in place since the 10th century.
If you're calling anyone in Tonga, you'll always start with +676 followed by a local number. There are no area codes — the country uses a flat numbering plan where the first digits of the local number tell you whether you're reaching a landline or mobile phone.
Quick answer: +676 is Tonga's country code. Landlines are 5 digits (starting with 2x–8x). Mobiles are 7 digits (starting with 77x or 87x). There are no area codes and no trunk prefix. From the US, dial +676 then the local number.
How to call Tonga: quick reference
The format depends on where you're calling from. Mobile phones accept the + prefix directly, while landlines need the international access code for your country.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +676 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-676-[local number] |
| New Zealand | 00-676-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-676-[local number] |
| Samoa | 00-676-[local number] |
| CallSky app | +676 [local number] |
Understanding Tonga phone numbers
Tonga uses a mixed-length numbering system with no area codes. The length and leading digits tell you the line type.
Landline numbers (5 digits)
Landlines in Tonga are 5 digits long. The leading digits indicate the island group or service type:
| Prefix | Area |
|---|---|
| 2x | Nuku'alofa (Tongatapu) |
| 3x | Other Tongatapu areas |
| 5x | Vava'u island group |
| 6x | Ha'apai island group |
| 8x | 'Eua island |
Example: +676 25-123 reaches a landline in central Nuku'alofa.
Mobile numbers (7 digits)
Mobile numbers are 7 digits and start with specific prefixes assigned to each carrier:
| Prefix | Carrier |
|---|---|
| 77xxxxx | Digicel Tonga |
| 87xxxxx | U-Call (UCom) |
Example: +676 77-12345 reaches a Digicel mobile.
Mobile carriers in Tonga
Digicel Tonga
Digicel entered the Tongan market in 2008 and quickly became the dominant mobile operator. They run a 4G LTE network covering Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua. Digicel also provides fixed broadband and business services. Mobile numbers on their network start with 77.
U-Call (UCom)
U-Call, operated by UCom, is the second mobile carrier in Tonga. Their mobile numbers start with 87. Coverage is concentrated on the main islands, with Tongatapu having the best reception.
Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC)
TCC is the government-owned operator that runs the fixed-line network across Tonga. They also provide internet services and operate the domestic fiber infrastructure. Most landline numbers in Tonga are on the TCC network.
Don't confuse +676 with nearby codes
Several country codes in the 67x range belong to Pacific Island nations, which causes frequent mix-ups:
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +675 | Papua New Guinea | 8-digit numbers, much larger country |
| +676 | Tonga | 5-digit landlines, 7-digit mobiles |
| +677 | Solomon Islands | 7-digit numbers across all types |
| +678 | Vanuatu | 5-digit landlines, 7-digit mobiles |
| +679 | Fiji | 7-digit numbers, starts with 3x/6x/7x/8x/9x |
The most common mistake is mixing up +676 (Tonga) and +675 (Papua New Guinea). Double-check the third digit — 6 for Tonga, 5 for PNG.
Time zone considerations
Tonga uses TOT (Tonga Time), which is UTC+13. This makes Tonga one of the first places in the world to see each new day. Tonga also observes daylight saving time from the first Sunday in November through the third Sunday in January, shifting to UTC+14.
| Your location | Time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US West Coast (PST) | Tonga is +21 hours (next day) | 4pm–8pm your time = 1pm–5pm next day Tonga |
| US East Coast (EST) | Tonga is +18 hours (next day) | 4pm–8pm your time = 10am–2pm next day Tonga |
| New Zealand (NZST) | Tonga is +1 hour | 9am–8pm either side |
| Australia (AEST) | Tonga is +3 hours | 6am–5pm your time = 9am–8pm Tonga |
The time gap with the US is large enough that you're almost always calling into the next calendar day. Keep this in mind when scheduling calls — when it's Monday evening in California, it's already Tuesday afternoon in Tonga.
Communication in Tonga
Business hours and etiquette
Government offices and businesses in Tonga typically operate Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Saturday is a half-day for some shops. Sunday is widely observed as a day of rest — most businesses close entirely, and it's considered culturally inappropriate to conduct business or make non-urgent calls on Sundays.
Network quality
4G coverage on Tongatapu is solid, particularly in Nuku'alofa and surrounding areas. Vava'u and Ha'apai have reasonable coverage in their main towns. Outer islands and remote villages may only have 2G/3G or intermittent service. The Tonga Cable submarine fiber link (completed in 2013) improved international bandwidth, though it was severed by the January 2022 Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption and took weeks to repair.
Messaging habits
Facebook Messenger is the most popular messaging platform in Tonga, followed by Viber. Many Tongans use prepaid mobile plans with data bundles, so internet-based calls and messaging are common, particularly for international communication with family abroad.
The Tonga diaspora
Where Tongans live abroad
Tonga has one of the highest emigration rates in the Pacific. More Tongans live overseas than in Tonga itself. The largest communities are in New Zealand (around 80,000, mainly in Auckland), Australia (around 40,000, concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne), and the United States (around 60,000, with major populations in Utah, California, and Hawaii). Smaller communities exist in Fiji and American Samoa.
Why they call home
Remittances are a huge part of Tonga's economy — they account for roughly 40% of GDP, one of the highest ratios in the world. Family ties are strong, and regular phone calls accompany the money transfers. Church connections also drive regular communication, as many Tongan diaspora communities organize around their local church and maintain direct links to congregations back home. Major calling spikes happen around Christmas, Tongan holidays (like Emancipation Day on June 4), and during natural disasters — the 2022 eruption and tsunami triggered a massive surge in calls to Tonga.
Dialing examples
Calling a landline in Nuku'alofa from the US
A Nuku'alofa landline number like 25-123. From a US mobile, dial +676 25123. From a US landline, dial 011 676 25123.
Calling a Digicel mobile from New Zealand
A Digicel mobile number like 77-12345. From a New Zealand phone, dial 00 676 7712345 or +676 7712345.
Calling a landline in Vava'u from Australia
A Vava'u landline like 50-456. From an Australian phone, dial 0011 676 50456 or +676 50456.
Calling a U-Call mobile from the CallSky app
A U-Call mobile number like 87-54321. In the CallSky app, dial +676 8754321. The app handles the formatting automatically.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing +676 with +675
Papua New Guinea is +675, Tonga is +676. Off by one digit, completely different country. If your call connects to someone speaking Tok Pisin instead of Tongan, you've dialed +675 by mistake.
Dialing the wrong number of digits
Landlines are 5 digits and mobiles are 7 digits. If you're getting a "number not in service" error, check that you have the right number of digits for the line type. Adding or dropping digits won't get you through.
Calling on a Sunday
Tonga takes Sunday rest seriously. Businesses are closed, and even personal calls can be unwelcome if they're not urgent. Unless you're calling close family, save it for a weekday.
Forgetting the date line gap
Tonga is UTC+13, which means it's already tomorrow relative to most callers in the US. If you arrange a call for "Tuesday at 5pm Tonga time," that's Monday evening in the US. Confirm which calendar day both sides mean.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +676 country code?
Tonga, a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific made up of about 170 islands.
How many digits are in a Tonga phone number?
Landlines are 5 digits and mobiles are 7 digits. There are no area codes, so you dial +676 followed by the local number directly.
How do I call Tonga from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +676 followed by the local number. From a US landline, dial 011-676 then the local number.
What time zone is Tonga in?
Tonga uses TOT (UTC+13), making it one of the first countries to see each new day. Daylight saving time shifts it to UTC+14 from November through January.
How much does it cost to call Tonga?
With CallSky, Economy rates start at $2.77/min for landlines and $2.98/min for mobiles. Premium rates are $2.90/min for both line types.
Looking for more Pacific Island dialing guides? Check out Samoa (+685), Fiji (+679), or browse the full country code directory.