2014 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. 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.

Area

12 sq km 12 sq km 0 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

Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location 5 m

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

0% (soil is thin and infertile) 60% 40% (2011)

arable land

0% (soil is thin and infertile)

other

40% (2011)

permanent crops

60%

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

12 nm 200 nm

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

42% 53% 5% (2013 est.)

0-14 years

42%

15-64 years

53%

65 years and over

5% (2013 est.)

Drinking water source

rural: 97.4% of population total: 97.4% of population rural: 2.6% of population total: 2.6% of population (2012 est.)

rural

2.6% of population

total

2.6% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Tokelauan 65.3%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 8.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 6.9%, part Tokelauan/other Pacific islander 1.9%, part Tokelauan/European 1%, Samoan 6.7%, Tuvaluan 2.8%, other Pacific islander 1.1%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

NA NA NA

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Languages

Tokelauan 93.5% (a Polynesian language), English 58.9%, Samoan 45.5%, Tuvaluan 11.6%, Kiribati 2.7%, other 2.5%, none 4.1%, unspecified 0.6% shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 ests.)

ntoe

shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 ests.)

Life expectancy at birth

NA NA NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

NA

Nationality

Tokelauan(s) Tokelauan

adjective

Tokelauan

noun

Tokelauan(s)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

63.4% (2007)

Population

1,337 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions

Congregational Christian Church 58.2%, Roman Catholic 36.6%, Presbyterian 1.8%, other Christian 2.8%, Spiritualism and New Age 0.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

rural: 92.9% of population total: 92.9% of population rural: 7.1% of population total: 7.1% of population (2012 est.)

rural

7.1% of population

total

7.1% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 13 years (2003)

female

13 years (2003)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

none; each atoll has its own administrative center UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

time difference

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948); amended many times, last in 2007 (2012)

Country name

none Tokelau

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

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 Jonathan KINGS (since February 2011) Kuresa NASAU (since February 2014); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders) the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors) the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; 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

cabinet

the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors)

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 Jonathan KINGS (since February 2011)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; 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

Kuresa NASAU (since February 2014); 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, in conjunction with the canoe, symbolizes the country 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

Court of Appeal in New Zealand (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels depending on the case) judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judge tenure NA High Court, in New Zealand; Council of Elders or Taupulega

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal in New Zealand (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels depending on the case)

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

High Court, in New Zealand; Council of Elders or Taupulega

Legal system

common law system of New Zealand

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 last held on 23 January 2014 (next to be held in 2017) independents 20

election results

independents 20

elections

last held on 23 January 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

"Te Atua" (For the Almighty) unknown/Falani KALOLO 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)

lyrics/music

unknown/Falani KALOLO

name

"Te Atua" (For the Almighty)

National holiday

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

National symbol(s)

tuluma (fishing tackle box)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$430,800 $2.8 million (1987 est.)

expenditures

$2.8 million (1987 est.)

revenues

$430,800

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.

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.247 (2013) 1.2334 (2012) 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008)

Exports

$0 (2002)

Exports - commodities

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

NA% NA% NA%

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%

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Broadcast media

no TV stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)

Internet country code

.tk

Internet hosts

2,069 (2012)

Internet users

800 (2008)

Telephone system

modern satellite-based communications system radiotelephone service between islands country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3 (2009)

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 (2009)

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Disputes - international

Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution