Dragonfly algorithm (DA) is a recently proposed optimization algorithm based on swarm intelligence, which has been successfully applied in function optimization, feature selection, parameter adjustment, etc. However, it fails to take individual optimal position into consideration but only relies on population optimal position and 5 behaviours to update individual position, leading to low accuracy, slow convergence, and local optima. To overcome these drawbacks, Tent Chaotic Map and Population Classification Evolution Strategy-Based Dragonfly Algorithm (TPDA) is proposed. Tent chaotic map is used to initialize the population, making individuals distributed more uniformly in search space to improve population diversity and search efficiency. Population is classified according to individual fitness value, and different position update methods are adopted for different types of individuals to guide the search process and improve the ability of TPDA to jump out of local optima, thus realizing a balance between exploration and exploitation. The efficiency of TPDA has been validated by tests on 18 basic unconstrained benchmark functions. A comparative performance analysis between TPDA, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), DA, and Adaptive Learning Factor and Differential Evolution-Based Dragonfly Algorithm (ADDA) has been carried out. Experimental and statistical results demonstrate that TPDA gives significantly better performances compared with PSO, DA, and ADDA on the average and standard deviation in all 18 functions. The global optimization capability of TPDA on high-dimensional functions and the comparison of the time complexity of TPDA and other swarm intelligence algorithms is also verified in the paper. The results indicate that TPDA is able to perform better on optimizing functions without consuming more computational time.