Tokelau
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyIndependence none (territory of New Zealand)
Tokelau as the 2020 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 91 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
18 fieldsLand useshare of 12 sq km
Location
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Population distribution
the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls
Environment - current issues
- overexploitation of certain fish and other marine species, coastal sand, and forest resources;
- pollution of freshwater lenses and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
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
People and Society
20 fieldsEthnic groups(2016 est.)
Religions(2016 est.)
Languages
Tokelauan 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 ests.) note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
Population distribution
the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- high (2020)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria
Government
Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); (Ulu o Tokelau) Fofo Filipo TUISANO (since 9 March 2020)
21 fieldsGeneral Fono, 20 seats, elected 23 January 2020 depending on islandone dot, one seat
Composition: men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Tokelau
- former:
- Union Islands, Tokelau Islands
- etymology:
- "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"
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 meet the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status
Capital
UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: there is no designated, official capital for Tokelau; the location of the capital rotates among the three atolls along with the head of government or Ulu o Tokelau
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution
- history:
- many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948)
- amendments:
- proposed as a resolution by the General Fono;
- passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono;
- amended many times, last in 2007
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- represented by Governor General of New Zealand Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016);
- New Zealand is represented by Administrator Ross ARDERN (since May 2018)
- head of government:
- (Ulu o Tokelau) Fofo Filipo TUISANO (since 9 March 2020); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) of the atolls
- cabinet:
- Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet;
- consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors)
- elections/appointments:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- governor general appointed by the monarch;
- administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand;
- head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term
note: the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls;
in actuality, it is the seat of the government councilors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral General Fono (20 seats apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms);
- note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
- elections:
- last held on 23 January 2020 depending on island (next to be held in January 2023)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - independent 20;
- composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- 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; judges serve for life
- subordinate courts:
- High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega
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
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)
Economy
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level.
21 fieldsBudget(2017 est.)
Economic overview
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The principal sources of revenue are from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue.
Industries
- small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods;
- stamps, coins;
- fishing
Energy
1 fieldCommunications
5 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(July 2016 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- modern satellite-based communications system;
- demand for mobile broadband increasing due to mobile services being the method of access for Internet across the region;
- 2G widespread with some 4G LTE service;
- satellite services has improved with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite launched in 2019 (2020)
- domestic:
- radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line 21 per 100 persons (2019)
- international:
- country code - 690;
- landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable linking Australia, Tokelau, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles, CA (USA);
- radiotelephone service to Samoa;
- government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok);
- satellite earth stations - 3 (2020)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide;
overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media
Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2019)
Transportation
2 fieldsMilitary and Security
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tokelau.” The World Factbook 2020. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tokelau/2020.