1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (territory of New Zealand)
Affiliation
(territory of New Zealand)
Agriculture
coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops - breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Airports
none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Area
total area: 10 sq km land area: 10 sq km comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Budget
revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)
Capital
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Coastline
101 km
Constitution
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
Currency
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Digraph
TL
Diplomatic representation in US
none (territory of New Zealand)
Economic aid
recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $24 million
Electricity
capacity: 200 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)
Environment
current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt international agreements: NA
Ethnic divisions
Polynesian
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6708 (1989)
Exports
$98,000 (f.o.b., 1983) commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts partners: NZ
External debt
$0
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Flag
the flag of New Zealand is used
Head of Government
Administrator Graham ANSELL (since NA 1990; appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand); Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Office of Tokelau Affairs; Tokelau's governing Council will elect its first head of government
Highways
total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Imports
$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983) commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel partners: NZ
Independence
none (territory of New Zealand)
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand
Labor force
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Languages
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Legal system
British and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each atoll
Literacy
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Location
Oceania, Polynesia, 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
SPC, WHO (associate)
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
National holiday
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million (1988 est.)
National product per capita
$800 (1988 est.)
National product real growth rate
NA%
Nationality
noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Natural resources
negligible
Note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Overview
Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
Political parties and leaders
NA
Population
1,523 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
-1.35% (1994 est.)
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
Religions
Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Suffrage
NA
Telecommunications
radiotelephone service between islands and to Western Samoa
Terrain
coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Type
territory of New Zealand
Unemployment rate
NA%
US diplomatic representation
none (territory of New Zealand)