Broadcast media [time series]

Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.tk

Internet users [time series]

total: 805 | percent of population: 60.2% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 300 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2016 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: 24,324,473 (2017 est.) | expenditures: 11,666,542 (2017 est.)

Economic 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 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.

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - | 1.543 (2017 est.)

Exports [time series]

$103,000 (2015 est.) | $102,826 (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fishery supplies, handicrafts, recyclables, stamps

Exports - partners [time series]

Samoa, Cook Islands, New Zealand (2020)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$12.658 million (2017 est.) | note: data uses New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as the currency of exchange.

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity) - real) [time series]

$7,711,583 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars.

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: NA | industry: NA | services: NA

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$6,004 (2017 est.) | $4,855 (2016 est.) | $4,292 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars.

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

NA

Imports [time series]

$15,792,720 (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

alcohol, automobiles, building materials, foodstuffs, fuel, tobacco

Imports - partners [time series]

Samoa, New Zealand, Cook Islands (2020)

Industries [time series]

small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2020 est.) | 2.5% (2019 est.) | 11% (2017 est.) | note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely due to cigarette prices, a chief import.

Labor force [time series]

1,100 (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

2% (2015 est.) | note: Underemployment may be as high as 6.6%

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 12 sq km | land: 12 sq km | water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Coastline [time series]

101 km

Elevation [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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]

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 60% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 60% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 40% (2011 est.)

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 cyclone belt

Natural resources [time series]

NEGL

Population distribution [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital [time series]

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

Citizenship [time series]

see New Zealand

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Tokelau | former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands | etymology: "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"

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 meet 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 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

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, 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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation [time series]

PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

common law system of New Zealand

Legislative branch [time series]

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%

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); national colors: blue, yellow, white

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

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 - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | unimproved: rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups [time series]

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% (2016 est.)

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 (2018) | male: NA | female: NA

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: NA (2017 est.) | male: NA | female: NA

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea | vectorborne diseases: malaria

Nationality [time series]

noun: Tokelauan(s) | adjective: Tokelauan

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.72 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

1,647 (2019 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions [time series]

Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | unimproved: rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

NA

Total fertility rate [time series]

NA

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 0% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Disputes - international [time series]

Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

none; offshore anchorage only

Roadways [time series]

total: 10 km (2019)