2019 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

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

Highest Point

unnamed location 5 m

Lowest Point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment Current Issues

overexploitation of certain fish and other marine species, coastal sand, and forest resources; pollution of freshwater lenses and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals

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

Agricultural Land

60% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

60% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0% (2011 est.)

Forest

0% (2011 est.)

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

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

Improved Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

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.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Total

NA (2018)

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% (2016 ests.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Population

NA (2017 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Tokelauan

Noun

Tokelauan(s)

Physicians Density

2.72 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

1,285 (2016 est.)

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

Improved Rural

90.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

90.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

9.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

9.5% of population (2015 est.)

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

0% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

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

Citizenship

see New Zealand

Constitution

Amendments

proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono; amended many times, last in 2007 (2019)

History

many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948)

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Tokelau

Etymology

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

Former

Union Islands, Tokelau Islands

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 meet 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

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 Jonathan KINGS (since 30 August 2017)

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 three 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

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International Organization Participation

PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

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 serve for life

Subordinate Courts

High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega

Legal System

common law system of New Zealand

Legislative Branch

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; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%

Elections

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

National Anthem

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); national colors: blue, yellow, white

Political Parties And Leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

2.8 million (1987 est.)

Revenues

430,800 (1987 est.)

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 are 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

2013

1.2039

2014

1.4279

2015

1.4279

2016

1.4279

2017

1.416

Currency

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exports

2002

$0

Exports Commodities

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Per Capita Ppp

1993

$1,000

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

1993

$1.5 million

GDP Real Growth Rate

NA

Imports

2002

$969,200

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)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Broadcast Media

Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2019)

Internet Country Code

.tk

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

60.2% (July 2016 est.)

Total

805

Telephone System

Domestic

radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 (2018)

General Assessment

modern satellite-based communications system; 4G LTE service (2018)

International

country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3

Telephones Fixed Lines

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