2010 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2010 (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
- land
- 12 sq km
- total
- 12 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
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)
- other
- 100% (2005)
- permanent crops
- 0%
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
- 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: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
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
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total
- NA
Languages
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Life expectancy at birth
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total population
- NA
Literacy
NA
Nationality
- adjective
- Tokelauan
- noun
- Tokelauan(s)
Net migration rate
NA
Population
1,400 (July 2010 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.011% (2010 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)
- female
- 11 years (2004)
- male
- 10 years
- total
- 11 years
Sex ratio
NA
Total fertility rate
NA
Urbanization
- rate of urbanization
- 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
- urban population
- 0% of total population (2008)
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
- cabinet
- the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet (For more information visit the World Leaders website )
- 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)
- elections
- the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
- head of government
- Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
Flag description
a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies
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; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms based upon proportional representation from the three islands; Atafu has 7 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats, Nukunonu has 6 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
- election results
- independents 20
- elections
- last held on 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
National anthem
- lyrics/music
- unknown/Falani KALOLO note: adopted 2008; in preparation for eventual self governance, Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem; as a territory of New Zealand, "God Defend New Zealand" and "God Save the Queen" are official (see New Zealand)
- name
- "Te Atua" (For the Almighty)
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
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 $10 million annually in 2008 and 2009 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly US$32 million, was established in 2004 to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue. 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
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)
Exports
$0 (2002)
Exports - commodities
stamps, copra, handicrafts
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 (2002)
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
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
Broadcast media
no broadcast television stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)
Internet country code
.tk
Internet hosts
526 (2010)
Internet users
800 (2008)
Telephone system
- domestic
- radiotelephone service between islands
- general assessment
- modern satellite-based communications system
- international
- country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3
Telephones - main lines in use
300 (2009)
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 page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================