Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
CIA - The World Factbook The World Factbook Home
CIA - The World Factbook
Australia-Oceania :: Tokelau
(territory of New Zealand)
page last updated on April 28, 2010
Flag of Tokelau
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Tokelau
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Tokelau
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Tokelau
 
Navigation Arrow view 1 photo Opens in New Window
of Tokelau
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Geography ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 12 sq km
country comparison to the world: 240
land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
101 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Current Weather
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NEGL
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
People ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1,400 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-0.011% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Polynesian
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2004)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Government ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of New Zealand)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of New Zealand)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
New Zealand and local statutes
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
21 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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 the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; 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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral General Fono (20 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands, members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; 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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of New Zealand)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of New Zealand)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
Economy ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1,000 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
440 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 228
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA kWh
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA kWh
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 223
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$969,200 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 220
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.6204 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005)
Back to Top
Communications ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 228
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.tk
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
360 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 215
Back to Top
Transportation ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none; offshore anchorage only
Back to Top
Military ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Tokelau
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
The online Factbook is updated bi-weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.