2000 Edition

Background

Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.

Area

land

10 sq km

total

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

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

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)

forests and woodland

0%

other

100% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

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

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

female

NA years

male

NA years

total population

NA years

Nationality

adjective

Tokelauan

noun

Tokelauan(s)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

1,458 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.89% (2000 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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Executive branch

cabinet

the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; functions as a cabinet

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)

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

head of government

Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997)

Flag description

the flag of New Zealand is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

SPC, WHO (associate)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction

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)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Budget

expenditures

$2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)

revenues

$430,830

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 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)

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%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

note

each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)

Radios

1,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

radiotelephone service between islands

international

radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations, established in 1997

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

0 (1997)

Airports

none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Samoa

Highways

paved

NA km

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Disputes - international

none

TONGA