2020 Edition

Background

Tokelau is composed of three atolls (Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu), and it was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The atolls operated relatively independently, but Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the others. British explorers first saw the atolls in 1765 and 1791. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. In 1863 Peruvian slave raiders abducted many islanders, and roughly contemporary outbreaks of disease reduced the population to about 200. Settlers of diverse nationalities subsequently intermarried with Tokelauans. In the same period, local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. British interest began in the late 1870s, and Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889, and in 1916 under the name Union Group, Tokelau became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand, and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claim to Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claim to Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa. Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007 in which more than 60% of voters chose free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. 

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, D.C.

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

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 (10 ft) above sea level

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

60% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

0% (2022 est.)

other

40% (2023 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

fish

Population distribution

the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

12.6 (2024)

potential support ratio

7.9 (2024)

total dependency ratio

52.7 (2024)

youth dependency ratio

40 (2024)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.3% of population (2022 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.)

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.)

Literacy

female

100% (2022 est.)

male

100% (2022 est.)

total population

100% (2022 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Tokelauan

noun

Tokelauan(s)

Net migration rate

-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Physician density

1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

1,252 (2024 est.)

male

1,201 (2024 est.)

total

2,453 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2019 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

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

0% of total population (2023)

Capital

time difference

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

Citizenship

see New Zealand

Constitution

amendment process

proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono

history

many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Act 1948 of New Zealand)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Tokelau

etymology

the name comes from the Polynesian word tokelau, meaning "north wind;" the name "Tokelau Islands" was adopted in 1946, and the shortened form in 1976

former

Union Islands, Tokelau Islands

Dependency status

Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand and part of the Realm of New Zealand; Tokelau has its own political institutions, judicial system, public services (including telecommunications and shipping), and budget control

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 village leaders (Faipule) and 3 village mayors (Pulenuku)

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Don HIGGINS (since June 2022)

election/appointment process

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

(Ulu o Tokelau) Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025)

Flag

description: a stylized yellow Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward four white five-pointed stars on the left side meaning: the stars are the Southern Cross constellation and represent the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture; the stars and canoe together symbolize the country navigating into the future; yellow stands for happiness and peace, and blue for the ocean

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 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 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

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

January 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

General Fono (Fono Fakamua)

most recent election date

26 January 2023

number of seats

20

parties elected and seats per party

independents (20)

percentage of women in chamber

15%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

3 years

National anthem(s)

history

official anthem, as a territory of New Zealand; normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National color(s)

blue, yellow, white

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840)

National symbol(s)

tuluma (fishing tackle box)

Political parties

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, root vegetables, tropical fruits, pork, bananas, eggs, chicken (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$11,666,542 (2017 est.)

revenues

$24,324,473 (2017 est.)

Economic overview

small New Zealand territorial island economy; labor force can work in New Zealand or Australia; significant remittances; largely solar-powered infrastructure; reliant on New Zealand funding; stamp, coin, and crafts producer

Exchange rates

Currency

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.414 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.577 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.628 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.652 (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars, telephones, garments, iron fasteners, fabric (2023)

Exports - partners

Czechia 92%, Singapore 2%, Brazil 1%, South Africa 1%, Sri Lanka 1% (2023)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.658 million (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities

integrated circuits, stone processing machines, refined petroleum, gas turbines, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

Samoa 31%, Italy 23%, France 21%, Netherlands 16%, Germany 2% (2023)

Industries

small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

11% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.5% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

4% (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$7,711,583 (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2015

$4,292 (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$4,855 (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2017

$6,004 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media

Sky TV access for about a third of the population; each atoll operates a radio service with shipping news and weather reports (2019)

Internet country code

.tk

Internet users

percent of population

58.3% (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2010 est.)

total subscriptions

300 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Environmental issues

overfishing; damage to forest resources; pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals