ARCHIVE // TK // 2011

Tokelau

2011 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
no broadcast television stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.tk
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
526 (2010) country comparison to the world: 178
Internet users [time series]
800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 215
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
300 (2010) country comparison to the world: 227
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $430,800 expenditures: $2.8 million (1987 est.)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production [time series]
NA kWh
Exchange rates [time series]
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008) 1.3811 (2007) 1.5408 (2006)
Exports [time series]
$0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 222
Exports - commodities [time series]
stamps, copra, handicrafts
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$1.5 million (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 227
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$1,000 (1993 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Imports [time series]
$969,200 (2002) country comparison to the world: 222
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Industries [time series]
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
440 (2001) country comparison to the world: 228
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 12 sq km country comparison to the world: 241 land: 12 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Coastline [time series]
101 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates [time series]
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location [time series]
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Natural resources [time series]
NEGL
Terrain [time series]
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (territory of New Zealand)
Capital [time series]
none; each atoll has its own administrative center time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status [time series]
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 [time series]
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of New Zealand)
Executive branch [time series]
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: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders) cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet (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 (Flag description) [time series]
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 symbolizes the country's 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 [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (territory of New Zealand)
International organization participation [time series]
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
Legal system [time series]
common law system of New Zealand
Legislative branch [time series]
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 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: independents 20
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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 [time series]
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
National symbol(s) [time series]
tuluma (fishing tackle box)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
none
Suffrage [time series]
21 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: rural: 97% of population total: 97% of population unimproved: rural: 3% of population total: 3% of population (2008)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Polynesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA male: NA female: NA
Languages [time series]
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy [time series]
NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Net migration rate [time series]
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
63.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 2
Population [time series]
1,384 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 234
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.011% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Religions [time series]
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
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: rural: 93% of population total: 93% of population unimproved: rural: 7% of population total: 7% of population (2008)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2003)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 0% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only