Tokelau
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

location

9.0° S, 172. 0° W
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

area

12 sq km
land
12 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

101 km

climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

elevation

lowest point
Pacific Ocean
0
highest point
unnamed location
5

natural resources

  • NEGL

land use

  • arable land
  • permanent crops
  • permanent pasture
  • forest
  • other

population distribution

the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls

people

population

  • 1,647
  • 234
    global rank

nationality

  • Tokelauan(s)
    noun
  • Tokelauan
    adjective

ethnic groups

Tokelauan
64.5 %
part Tokelauan/Samoan
9.7 %
part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan
2.8 %
Tuvaluan
7.5 %
Samoan
5.8 %
other Pacific Islander
3.4 %
other
5.6 %
unspecified
0.8 %

languages

  • Tokelauan
    a Polynesian language
  • English
  • Samoan
  • Tuvaluan
  • Kiribati
  • other
  • none
  • unspecified
    2016 ests.

religions

Congregational Christian Church
50.4 %
Roman Catholic
38.7 %
Presbyterian
5.9 %
other Christian
4.2 %
unspecified
0.8 %

urban population

0 %

government

government type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

independence

national holidays

  • Waitangi Day
    6 February

legal system

common law system of New Zealand

age of suffrage

21

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 colors

  • blue
  • yellow
  • white

national anthem

"Te Atua" (For the Almighty)

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 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.

GDP

1,500,000 USD
1993

agriculture products

  • coconuts
  • copra
  • breadfruit
  • papayas
  • bananas
  • pigs
  • poultry
  • goats
  • fish

budget

  • 430,800
    revenue (undefined)
  • 2,800,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

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)

internet

.tk
country code

    users

  • 805
    total
  • 60.2
    % of population
  • 223
    global rank

energy

This entry doesn't have any available energy data.

transportation

This entry doesn't have any available transportation data.

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.