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. 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.

Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S 172 00 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 12 km²
Rank: 241
Land: 12 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
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain: low-lying 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%
Other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Geography
Note: 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

Population: 1400 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 234
Growth rate: -0.011% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 199
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Tokelauan
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: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.011% (2010 est.)
Rank: 199

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

Urbanization
Urban population: 0% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

Sex ratio: NA

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

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

Total fertility rate: NA

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 11 years (2004)

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

Government type: NA

Capital: none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)

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

Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970

Legal system: New Zealand and local statutes

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II ; represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
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
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; 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

Legislative branch: 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: PIF (observer) SPC UNESCO (associate) UPU

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

Flag description: 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

National anthem
Name: 'Te Atua'
Lyricsmusic: 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)

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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $1.5 million (1993 est.)
Rank: 228

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $1000 (1993 est.)
Rank: 215

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

Agriculture products: coconuts copra breadfruit papayas bananas; pigs poultry goats; fish

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

Labor force: 440 (2001)
Rank: 228

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

Exports: $0 (2002)
Rank: 223
Commodities: stamps copra handicrafts

Imports: $969,200 (2002)
Rank: 222
Commodities: foodstuffs building materials fuel

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008) 1.3811 (2007) 1.5408 (2006)

Electricity
Production: NA kWh
Consumption: NA kWh

Telephones
Main lines in use: 300 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 228

Telephone system
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

Broadcast media: no broadcast television stations; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2009)

Internet
Country code: .tk
Hosts: 526 (2010)
Hosts rank: 178
Users: 800 (2008)
Users rank: 215

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Disputes international: Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution