What currency is used in Tonga?

The currency used in Tonga is the pa'anga. Its ISO currency code is TOP, and it is commonly written with the symbol T$.

The pa'anga was introduced on 3 April 1967, replacing the Tongan pound at a rate of one pound for two pa'anga. It is divided into 100 seniti, roughly equivalent to cents in many other currencies. The National Reserve Bank of Tonga issues the country's banknotes and coins.

Unlike currencies such as the U.S. dollar, the pa'anga is not freely convertible internationally. Its value is managed against a basket containing the Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, U.S. dollar, and Japanese yen. Tonga sometimes calls the pa'anga a “dollar” in everyday English, but pa'anga is the official name.

A common mix-up is confusing Tonga's currency with the Tongan pound, which was used before 1967. The word pa'anga is associated with money, while seniti is the name of its smaller unit.