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.

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 10 km²
Land: 10 km²
Water: 0 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: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Population: 1,463 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: -1.35% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Tokelauan(s)
Adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic groups: Polynesian

Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

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

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

Population growth rate: -1.35% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population

Environment
Current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Sex ratio
At birth: NA male(s)/female
Under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
Total population: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

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: NA

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: 21 years of age

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993)
Head of government: Official Secretary Brian LAWRENCE (since NA)
Cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of the elected leaders from each atoll, functions as a cabinet
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand

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 who meet together twice a year)

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

International organization participation: SPC, WHO (associate)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of New Zealand)
From the us: none (territory of New Zealand)

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.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports
Total value: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983)
Commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts
Partners: NZ

Imports
Total value: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983)
Commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Partners: NZ

Debt external: $0

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4247 (January 1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992)

Electricity
Capacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: NA

Telephone system
Domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
International: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa

Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Western Samoa

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none