2023 Edition

Background

Tokelau, which comprises three atolls, was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The three atolls operated relatively independently but had contact with one another, intermarrying and occasionally fighting wars. Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the other two. British explorer John BYRON was the first European to see Atafu Atoll in 1765. British naval officer Edward EDWARDS saw Nukunonu Atoll in 1791, and ships occasionally continued to pass by Atafu and Nukunonu. In 1835, a US whaling ship became the first non-Pacific island ship to pass by Fakaofo. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in 1845 and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. To this day, Nukunonu is predominantly Catholic while Atafu is mostly Protestant; Catholic and Protestant missionaries both worked in Fakaofo, and the population there is more mixed.In 1863, Peruvian slave traders, masquerading as missionaries, kidnapped nearly all the men from Tokelau, and local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. The atolls were repopulated when new Polynesian settlers and American and European migrants intermarried with local Tokelauan women. Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889 and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate - later a colony - in 1908. 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 claims over Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claims over 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 two self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007, in which more than 60% of voters chose to go into free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. Tokelau lacks an airport and is only accessible via a day-long boat trip from Samoa, although a site for an airstrip on Nukunonu was selected in 2019. Because of its dependency on Samoa for transportation, in 2011, Tokelau followed Samoa’s lead and shifted the international date line to its east, skipping December 30 and becoming one hour ahead of New Zealand rather than 23 hours behind.

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

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 (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

60% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

40% (2018 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

Fisheries

Population distribution

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

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Age structure

0-14 years

NA

15-64 years

NA

65 years and over

NA

Birth rate

NA

Child marriage

men married by age 18

2.8% (2019 est.)

women married by age 15

0.4%

women married by age 18

10.1%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52% (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.4

potential support ratio

7.5 (2021)

total dependency ratio

60.4

youth dependency ratio

47

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 0% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

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.)

Infant mortality rate

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% (2016 ests.)

note

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

adjective

Tokelauan

noun

Tokelauan(s)

Net migration rate

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

Physicians density

NA

Population

1,647 (2019 est.)

Population distribution

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

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

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

(2021 est.) NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

0% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

note

note: there is no designated, official capital for Tokelau; the location of the capital rotates among the three atolls along with the head of government or Ulu o Tokelau

time difference

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 several times, last in 2007

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 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 Ross ARDERN (since May 2018)

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

(Ulu o Tokelau) Kelihiano KALOLO (since 8 March 2021); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) of the atolls

note

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 councilors 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 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

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 26 January 2023 depending on island (next to be held in January 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/Falani KALOLO

name

"Te Atua" (For the Almighty)

note

note: adopted 2008; in preparation for eventual self governance, Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem; as a territory of New Zealand, in addition to "God Defend New Zealand," "God Save the King" serves as a royal anthem (see United Kingdom); "God Save the King" normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, "God Defend New Zealand" is played (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

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, roots/tubers, tropical fruit, pork, bananas, eggs, poultry, pig offals, pig fat, fruit

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 2017

1.543 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2002

$102,826 (2002 est.)

Exports 2015

$103,000 (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

oscilloscopes, house linens, fruits, nuts, recreational boats, iron products (2019)

Exports - partners

Singapore 25%, France 19%, South Africa 7%, New Zealand 5%, United States 5%, Ireland 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

NA

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.658 million (2017 est.)

note

note: data uses New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as the currency of exchange.

Imports

Imports 2015

$15,792,720 (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

oscilloscopes, integrated circuits, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, orthopedic appliances (2019)

Imports - partners

Samoa 35%, Ireland 17%, Philippines 14%, Malaysia 13%, South Africa 9% (2019)

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.)

note

note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely due to cigarette prices, a chief import.

Labor force

1,100 (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars.

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$7,711,583 (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

NA

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

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.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: Underemployment may be as high as 6.6%

Unemployment rate 2015

2% (2015 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

58.3% (2021 est.)

total

800 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is 0 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

a new submarine cable between New Zealand and Tokelau will provide high speed, reliable internet to Tokelau for the first time; due for completion in 2022, this will provide Tokelau with affordable, high quality internet and telecommunications, and better, more effective access to digital services and platforms (2021)

international

country code - 690; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable linking Australia, Tokelau, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles, CA (USA); radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3 (2020)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2010 est.)

total subscriptions

300 (2010 est.)

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

Roadways

total

10 km (2019)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Disputes - international

Tokelau-American Samoa (US): Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution; Swains Island has been administered by American Samoa since 1925; the 1980 Treaty of Tokehega delineates the maritime boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau; while not specifically mentioning Swains Island, the treaty notes in its preamble that New Zealand does not claim as part of Tokelau any island administered as part of American Samoa

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

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

Land use

agricultural land

60% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

40% (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

0% of total population (2023)