1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Coastline
419 km
Comparative area
about four times the size of Washington, D. C.
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited); subject to cyclones (October to April); deforestation
Extended economic zone
200 nm
Land use
25% arable land; 55% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 12% forest and woodland; 2% other
Special notes
none
Terrain
most have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlaying volcanic base
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
700 km2; land area: 670 km2
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
Polynesian; about 300 Europeans
Nationality
noun — Tongan(s); adjective — Tongan
Population
98,689 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.76%
Religion
Christian; Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents
Government
Administrative divisions
each village has a Council of Elders (Taupulega) made up of heads of family groups together with the commissioner (faipule) and the mayor (pulenuku); the commissioner administers the law and presides over the court
Branches
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand is empowered to appoint an Administrator to the region; the powers of the Administrator are delegated to the Official Secretary at the Office of Tokelau Affairs, Apia, Western Samoa
Capital
no capital — each atoll has its own administrative center
Communists
probably none
Elections
elections for a commissioner and a mayor from each atoll held at three-year intervals
Government leaders
H. H. FRANCIS, Administrator (since February 1985); A. H. MACEY, Official Secretary, Office of Tokelau Affairs (since February 1985)
Legal system
British and local statutes
National holiday
6 February (Waitangi Day)
Official name
Tokelau
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
New Zealand Associated Territory; Tokelauans are British subjects and New Zealand citizens; administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 as amended in
Economy
Agriculture
coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops — pulaka, breadfruit, pawpaw, bananas; pigs, poultry
Budget
(1983/4) expenditures, $1,358,105; revenue, $208,419; New Zealand subsidy, $1,149,686
Electric power
200 kW capacity; .30 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$98,000 (1983); stamps, handicrafts
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Fishing
ocean and lagoon fish and shellfish for local consumption
GDP
$1 million, $670 per capita (1983)
Imports
$323,400 (1983); foodstuffs, machinery, fuel
Major industries
copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods, stamps, coins
Major trade partner
New Zealand
Monetary conversion rate
New Zealand currency and the Tokelau souvenir coin are legal tender— NZ$1.93=US$1 (November 1986); Western Samoan currency is also used
Natural resources
negligible
Communications
Airfields
none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa
Highways
none
Ports
no natural harbor; offshore anchorages
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
telephone service links islands to each other and to Western Samoa (1985) Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand 200km South Pacific Ocean _ Talahi ' Niuatoputapu Veva'u . Group ^Neia.u Ht'lpti Group • • • I • •'.'* NUKU ALOFA* <W Tongotapu Group Sec regional map X Minerva Reef not shown