Introduction

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.`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`9 00 S, 172 00 W`
Map references: |  |
`Oceania`
Area: |  |
`total: 12 sq km country comparison to the world: 240 land: 12 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`101 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)`
Terrain: |  |
`low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`NEGL`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`lies in Pacific typhoon belt`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand`
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`

People

Population: |  |
`1,384 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 233`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`-0.011% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 198`
Birth rate: |  |
`NA`
Death rate: |  |
`NA`
Net migration rate: |  |
`NA`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 0% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`NA`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: NA male: NA female: NA`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: NA male: NA female: NA`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: rural: 97% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: rural: 3% of population total: 3% of population (2008)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: rural: 93% of population total: 93% of population unimproved: rural: 7% of population total: 7% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Polynesian`
Religions: |  |
`Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant`
Languages: |  |
`Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English`
Literacy: |  |
`NA`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2003)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau`
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`
Government type: |  |
`NA`
Capital: |  |
`none; each atoll has its own administrative center time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
Administrative divisions: |  |
`none (territory of New Zealand)`
Independence: |  |
`none (territory of New Zealand)`
National holiday: |  |
`Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)`
Constitution: |  |
`administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970`
Legal system: |  |
`common law system of New Zealand`
Suffrage: |  |
`21 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms based upon proportional representation from the three islands - Atafu has 7 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats, Nukunonu has 6 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections: last held on 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: independents 20
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`none`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`none`
International organization participation: |  |
`PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`none (territory of New Zealand)`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`none (territory of New Zealand)`
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 symbolizes the country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Te Atua" (For the Almighty) lyrics/music: unknown/Falani KALOLO 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)`

Economy

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 people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $10 million annually in 2008 and 2009 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly US$32 million, was established in 2004 to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue. 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.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$1.5 million (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 227`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$NA`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$1,000 (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 215`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
Labor force: |  |
`440 (2001) country comparison to the world: 228`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`NA%`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $430,800 expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`NA%`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish`
Industries: |  |
`small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing`
Electricity - production: |  |
`NA kWh`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`NA kWh`
Exports: |  |
`$0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 222`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`stamps, copra, handicrafts`
Imports: |  |
`$969,200 (2002) country comparison to the world: 222`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`foodstuffs, building materials, fuel`
Exchange rates: |  |
`New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008) 1.3811 (2007) 1.5408 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 227`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3`
Broadcast media: |  |
`no broadcast television stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.tk`
Internet hosts: |  |
`526 (2010) country comparison to the world: 178`
Internet users: |  |
`800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 215`

Transportation

Ports and terminals: |  |
`none; offshore anchorage only`

Military

Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of New Zealand`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011