Tokelau

Broadcast media

no TV stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)

Internet country code

.tk

Internet hosts

2,069 (2012) country comparison to the world: 162

Internet users

800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 216

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 (2009)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish

Budget

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

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.

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.247 (2013) 1.2334 (2012) 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008)

Exports

$0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 223

Exports - commodities

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$969,200 (2002) country comparison to the world: 222

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

440 (2001) country comparison to the world: 232

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Area

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

Area - comparative

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

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Coastline

101 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

9 00 S, 172 00 W

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 60% other: 40% (2011)

Location

Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

none; each atoll has its own administrative center time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948); amended many times, last in 2007 (2012)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

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 Jonathan KINGS (since February 2011) head of government: Kuresa NASAU (since February 2014); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders) cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors) (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

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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; judge tenure NA subordinate courts: High Court, in New Zealand; Council of Elders or Taupulega

Legal system

common law system of New Zealand

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 23 January 2014 (next to be held in 2017) election results: independents 20

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)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

tuluma (fishing tackle box)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2013 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural: 97.4% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: rural: 2.6% of population total: 2.6% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Tokelauan 65.3%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 8.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 6.9%, part Tokelauan/other Pacific islander 1.9%, part Tokelauan/European 1%, Samoan 6.7%, Tuvaluan 2.8%, other Pacific islander 1.1%, other 5.1%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA male: NA female: NA

Languages

Tokelauan 93.5% (a Polynesian language), English 58.9%, Samoan 45.5%, Tuvaluan 11.6%, Kiribati 2.7%, other 2.5%, none 4.1%, unspecified 0.6% ntoe: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 ests.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Literacy

NA

Nationality

noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

63.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 4

Population

1,337 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 236

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Religions

Congregational Christian Church 58.2%, Roman Catholic 36.6%, Presbyterian 1.8%, other Christian 2.8%, Spiritualism and New Age 0.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural: 92.9% of population total: 92.9% of population unimproved: rural: 7.1% of population total: 7.1% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2003)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Disputes - international

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

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only