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.

Area
Total: 10 km²
Land: 10 km²
Comparative: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 101 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain: Coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: 5 m

Natural resources: Negligible

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA

Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Tokelauan(s)
Adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian

Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Religions:
Note: On Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population Infant Mortality Rate:NA deaths/1000 live births

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Current issues Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt
International agreements: NA

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Tokelau

Government type: Territory of New Zealand

Capital: None; each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions: None (territory of New Zealand)

Independence: None (territory of New Zealand)

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

Constitution: Administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970

Legal system: British and local statutes

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch: Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) who was appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand Head of Government:Official Secretary Casimilo J. PEREZ (since NA), Tokelau Apia Liaison Office

Legislative branch: Unicameral General Fono:Seats_(45 total, 15 chosen by each of the three atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega)

Judicial branch: High Court in Niue, Supreme Court in New Zealand

International organization participation: SPC, WHO (associate)

Flag description: The flag of New Zealand is used

Economy overview: Tokelau's small size, 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.

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $1,000 (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: Coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops_breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget
Revenues: $430,830
Expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Exports: total value. $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
Commodities:
Partners: NZ

Imports: total value:$323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
Commodities:
Partners: NZ

Debt external: $0

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1: 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), l.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990)

Electricity
Capacity: 200 kW
Production: 300,000 kWh
Consumption per capita: 180 kWh (1990)

Telephone system: NA telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: radiotelephone service between islands
International: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

Merchant marine: None Airports:None; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa