Tokelau

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.tk

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)

Radios

1,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations, established in 1997

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Currency

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code

NZD

Debt - external

$0

Economic aid - recipient

$3.8 million (1995)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)

Exports

$98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)

Exports - commodities

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners

NZ

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Imports - partners

NZ

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Coastline

101 km

Elevation extremes

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

Geographic coordinates

9 00 S, 172 00 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Capital

none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

Dependency status

territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with Wellington

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of New Zealand)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; functions as a cabinet elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term

Flag description

the flag of New Zealand is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

SPC, WHO (associate)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau

Legal system

British and local statutes

Legislative branch

unicameral General Fono (45 seats - 15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Background

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. According to a UN report, these low-lying islands will disappear in the 21st century, if global warming continues to raise sea levels.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

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

Ethnic groups

Polynesian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

1,445 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.92% (2001 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

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes - international

none

Airports

none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Samoa

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none