Tokelau

territory of New ZealandIndependence none (territory of New Zealand)

Tokelau as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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
Position9 00 S, 172 00 W
Area10 sq km
LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,
Populationas each edition published it
1,482 people July 1996 est. · 1,700 in 1990
Population growth% a year
-1.35% 1996 est. · -1.35% in 1993
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,000 1993 est. · $800 in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 10 sq km

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all
Area
10sq km
land area: 10 sq kmcomparative 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, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates

9 00 S, 172 00 W

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain

coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

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

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

People

14 fields
Population
1,482
(July 1996 est.)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

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

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

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

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

Government

Territory of New Zealand; Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Tokelau Apia Liaison Office

19 fields

Name of country

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Tokelau

Type of government

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)

National holiday

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

Constitution

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

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

General Fono

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

Judicial branch

High Court in Niue; Supreme Court in New Zealand

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.

20 fields

Budget

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

Installed generating capacity, 200 kW

Electricity production
300,000 Electricity consumption per capita
180 (1990)

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.

GDP

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

GDP composition by sector

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

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

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

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

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)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Highways

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

Ports

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports

none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

Communications

7 fields

Telephone system

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

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.)

Televisions

NA Defense

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Tokelau.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tokelau/1996.