countries/TL

Tokelau

territoryFIPS: TL|Edition: 1996|79 fields

COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of NA type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports

Radios

1,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

Telephones

NA

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA Defense

ECONOMY(20 fields)

Agriculture

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Budget

revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. 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.

Electricity

capacity: 200 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991)

Exports

$98,000 (f.o.b., 1983) commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts partners: NZ

External debt

0

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP per capita

$1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983) commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel partners: NZ

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Unemployment rate

NA%

GEOGRAPHY(14 fields)

Area

total area: 10 sq km land area: 10 sq km comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Coastline

101 km

Environment

current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

9 00 S, 172 00 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Location

Oceania, group of islands 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 resources

NEGL

Terrain

coral atolls enclosing large lagoons lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

GOVERNMENT(19 fields)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Constitution

administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970

Data code

TL

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) who was appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand head of government: Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Tokelau Apia Liaison Office

Flag

the flag of New Zealand is used

General Fono

seats - (45 total, 15 chosen by each of the three atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega)

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

SPC, WHO (associate)

Judicial branch

High Court in Niue; Supreme Court in New Zealand

Legal system

British and local statutes

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

NA

Type of government

territory of New Zealand

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of New Zealand)

PEOPLE(14 fields)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

1,482 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.35% (1996 est.)

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

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

TRANSPORTATION(5 fields)

Airports

none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

Highways

total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

none; offshore anchorage only

Railways

0 km