Tokelau

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
land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 242

Area - comparative

about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

101 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources

NEGL

Land use

agricultural land: 60% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 60% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 40% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

lies in Pacific cyclone belt

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

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 and Society

Population

1,285 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235

Nationality

noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan

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

Religions

Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 0% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA (2018)
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA (2017 est.)
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Drinking water source

improved: rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Physicians density

2.72 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural: 90.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 90.5% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: rural: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)
total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands
etymology: "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of 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

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

Legal system

common law system of New Zealand

Citizenship

see 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 Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Jonathan KINGS (since 30 August 2017)
head of government: Afega GAULOFA (since 10 March 2016); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)
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)
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
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

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
elections: last held on 23, 27, and 31 January 2017 depending on island (next to be held in 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%

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

Political parties and leaders

none

International organization participation

PIF (associate member), 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, 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

National symbol(s)

tuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors: blue, yellow, white

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 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.5 million (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 229

GDP (official exchange rate)

NA

GDP - real growth rate

NA

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: 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

Labor force

440 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 231

Unemployment rate

NA

Population below poverty line

NA

Budget

revenues: 430,800 (1987 est.)
expenditures: 2.8 million (1987 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA

Exports

$0 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224

Exports - commodities

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Imports

$969,200 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.416 (2017 est.)
1.4279 (2016 est.)
1.4279 (2015)
1.4279 (2014 est.)
1.2039 (2013 est.)

Energy

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 300
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Telephone system

general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system; 4G LTE service (2018)
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line less than 1 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3

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

total: 805
percent of population: 60.2% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223

Military and Security

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transportation

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution

Flag of Tokelau