1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Coastline
101 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Environment--current issues
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Location
Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
Polynesian
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality
noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
1,471 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.92% (1999 est.)
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
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of New Zealand)
Capital
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Constitution
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Data code
TL
Dependency status
territory of New Zealand; note--Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with Wellington
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; functions as a cabinet elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Flag description
the flag of New Zealand is used
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of New Zealand)
International organization participation
SPC, WHO (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction Political parties and leaders: none
Legal system
British and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral General Fono (45 seats--15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note--the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono
National holiday
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Budget
revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)
Currency
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$0
Economic aid--recipient
$3.8 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
Electricity--consumption
NA kWh
Electricity--exports
NA kWh
Electricity--imports
NA kWh
Electricity--production
NA kWh
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Exports
$98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
Exports--commodities
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports--partners
NZ
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
Imports--commodities
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports--partners
NZ
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%
Labor force
NA
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of NA type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports
Radios
1,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with three satellite earth stations, established in 1997
Telephones
NA
Television broadcast stations
NA (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none