2017 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

land

12 sq km

total

12 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Coastline

101 km

Elevation

NA lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

mean elevation

NA

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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

60% arable land 0%; permanent crops 60%; permanent pasture 0% 0% 40% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

60%

forest

0%

other

40% (2011 est.)

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 cyclone belt

Natural resources

NEGL

Population - distribution

the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Drinking water source

rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Tokelauan 64.5%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 9.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 2.8%, Tuvaluan 7.5%, Samoan 5.8%, other Pacific islander 3.4%, other 5.6%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 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 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2016 ests.)

note

shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2016 ests.)

Life expectancy at birth

NA NA NA (2017 est.)

female

NA (2017 est.)

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

Tokelauan(s) Tokelauan

adjective

Tokelauan

noun

Tokelauan(s)

Physicians density

2.72 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

1,285 (2016 est.)

Population distribution

the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions

Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

rural: 90.5% of population total: 90.5% of population rural: 9.5% of population total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)

rural

9.5% of population

total

9.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

0% of total population (2017) 0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2017)

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)

Citizenship

see New Zealand

Constitution

many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948); amended many times, last in 2007 (2016)

Country name

none Tokelau "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Tokelau

etymology

"tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"

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 Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David NICHOLSON (since November 2016) Afega GAULOFA (since 10 March 2016); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders) Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) 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; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls; in actuality, it is the seat of the government councillors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital

cabinet

Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) 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 Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David NICHOLSON (since November 2016)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term

head of government

Afega GAULOFA (since 10 March 2016); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)

note

the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls; in actuality, it is the seat of the government councillors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital

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

parliamentary democratic dependency (General Fono); a territory of New Zealand

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

PIF (associate member), 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; judges appointed for life 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; judges appointed for life

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 apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono last held on 23, 27, and 31 January 2017 depending on island (next to be held in 2020) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20

description

unicameral General Fono (20 seats apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20

elections

last held on 23, 27, and 31 January 2017 depending on island (next to be held in 2020)

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)

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)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

tuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors: blue, yellow, white

tuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors

blue, yellow, white

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 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. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue.

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4341 (2016) 1.4279 (2015) 1.4279 (2014 est.) 1.2039 (2013 est.) 1.23 (2012 est.)

Exports

$0 (2002 est.)

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 est.)

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 2010 es)

Broadcast media

Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2011)

Internet country code

.tk

Internet users

60.2% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

60.2% (July 2016 est.)

total

805

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 (2015)

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

21 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

300

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