Tokelau

territory of New ZealandIndependence none (territory of New Zealand)

Tokelau as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Capitalnone
Area10 km2
LocationOceania, 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
1993

Every edition of Tokelau

Populationas each edition published it
1,544 people July 1993 est. · 1,700 in 1990
Population growth% a year
-1.35% 1993 est. · -0.01% in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$800 1988 est. · $6,004 in 2025

Geography

Oceania, 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about | halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

13 fields

Land useshare of 10 km2

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all
Area
10km2
land area: 10 km2 comparative area: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Coastline
101km
land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Oceania, 3,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain

coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Environment

lies in Pacific typhoon belt

People

14 fields
Population
1,544
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: -1.35% (1993 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

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

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

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Nationality

noun:
Tokelauan(s)
adjective:
Tokelauan

Languages

Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Literacy

total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%

Government

Territory of New Zealand

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Tokelau

Type

territory of New Zealand

Capital

none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

Constitution

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

National holiday

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

Executive branch

British monarch, administrator (appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in New Zealand), official secretary

Legislative branch

unicameral Council of Elders (Taupulega) on each atoll

Judicial branch

High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand

Leaders

Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of Government:
  • Administrator Graham ANSELL (since NA 1990);
  • Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Office of Tokelau Affairs;
  • Tokelau's governing Council will elect its first head of government in 1993

Member of

SPC, WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag

the flag of New Zealand is used

Economy

Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain | economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level.

18 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$800
(1988 est.)

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.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million (1988 est.)

Budget

revenues $430,830; expenditures $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (FY87)

Exports

$98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)

commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts
partners:
NZ

Imports

$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)

commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
partners:
NZ

Electricity

200 kW capacity; 300,000 kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • coconuts, copra;
  • basic subsistence crops - breadfruit, papaya, bananas;
  • pigs, poultry, goats

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $24 million

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Communications

3 fields

Ports

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports

none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

Telecommunications

radiotelephone service between islands and to Western Samoa

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tokelau.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tokelau/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →