2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.
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
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Geography - note
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5%
Birth rate
NA (2008 est.)
Death rate
NA (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Polynesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Net migration rate
NA (2008 est.)
Population
1,433 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.011% (2008 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
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years male: 10 years female: 11 years (2004)
Sex ratio
NA
Total fertility rate
NA (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of New Zealand)
Capital
none; each atoll has its own administrative center time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of New Zealand)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006) head of government: Pio TUIA (since 23 February 2008); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet elections: 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
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Judicial branch
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
Legal system
New Zealand and local statutes
Legislative branch
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven seats, Nukunonu has six seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono elections: last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: independents 20
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
Budget
revenues: $430,800 expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Currency (code)
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code
NZD
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 rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services with 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 - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Exports
$0 (2002)
Exports - commodities
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners
New Zealand (2006)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
Imports
$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports - partners
New Zealand (2006)
Industries
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
440 (2001)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Internet country code
.tk
Internet hosts
273 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3
Telephones - main lines in use
300 (2002)
Transportation
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008