Tokelau
Background
Tokelau is composed of three atolls (Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu), and it was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The atolls operated relatively independently, but Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the others. British explorers first saw the atolls in 1765 and 1791. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. In 1863 Peruvian slave raiders abducted many islanders, and roughly contemporary outbreaks of disease reduced the population to about 200. Settlers of diverse nationalities subsequently intermarried with Tokelauans. In the same period, local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. British interest began in the late 1870s, and Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889, and in 1916 under the name Union Group, Tokelau became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand, and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claim to Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claim to Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa. Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007 in which more than 60% of voters chose free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change.
Area
Coastline
101 km
Elevation
Geographic coordinates
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 (10 ft) above sea level
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Location
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
lies in Pacific cyclone belt
Natural resources
Terrain
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 52.7 (2024) youth dependency ratio: 40 (2024) elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2024) potential support ratio: 7.9 (2024)
Ethnic groups
Languages
Literacy
total population: 100% (2022 est.) male: 100% (2022 est.) female: 100% (2022 est.)
Nationality
noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Net migration rate
-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Physician density
1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Population distribution
the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls
Population growth rate
-0.01% (2019 est.)
Population
- breakdown
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Religions
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Environmental issues
overfishing; damage to forest resources; pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
Land use
agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.) arable land: 0% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 40% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Capital
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Citizenship
see New Zealand
Constitution
history: many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Act 1948 of New Zealand) amendment process: proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono note: Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory and has been administered by New Zealand since 1926; Tokelau is considered "part of New Zealandโ under the Tokelau Act 1948, and Tokelauans are New Zealand citizens; in the mid-2000s Tokelau held two referenda on becoming self-governing in free association with New Zealand; the first vote was held in February 2006 but narrowly missed the two-thirds majority required for a change of status, as did a second vote held in 2007; since the self-government referenda, Tokelau has put questions about its constitutional status on hold; it remains a territory of New Zealand but exercises a substantial degree of self-government
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands etymology: the name comes from the Polynesian word tokelau, meaning "north wind;" the name "Tokelau Islands" was adopted in 1946, and the shortened form in 1976
Dependency status
Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand and part of the Realm of New Zealand; Tokelau has its own political institutions, judicial system, public services (including telecommunications and shipping), and budget control
Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Don HIGGINS (since June 2022) head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Esera Fofล Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025) cabinet: Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 village leaders (Faipule) and 3 village mayors (Pulenuku) election/appointment process: 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 and the head of government position 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, but Tokelau has no capital
Flag
description: a stylized yellow Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward four white five-pointed stars on the left side meaning: the stars are the Southern Cross constellation and represent the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture; the stars and canoe together symbolize the country navigating into the future; yellow stands for happiness and peace, and blue for the ocean
Government type
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Independence
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
common law system of New Zealand
Legislative branch
legislature name: General Fono (Fono Fakamua) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 20 electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 3 years most recent election date: 26 January 2023 parties elected and seats per party: independents (20) percentage of women in chamber: 15% expected date of next election: January 2026
National anthem(s)
title: โViki O Tokelauโ (Anthem of Tokelau) lyrics/music: Eric Lemuelu FALIMA history: adopted 2012; national contest was held to choose a local anthem _____ title: "God Defend New Zealand" lyrics/music: Thomas BRACKEN [English], Thomas Henry SMITH [Maori]/John Joseph WOODS history: official anthem, as a territory of New Zealand; played when no members of the royal family or the governor-general are present _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a territory of New Zealand; normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present
National color(s)
blue, yellow, white
National holiday
National symbol(s)
tuluma (fishing tackle box)
Political parties
none
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Agricultural products
Budget
revenues: $24,324,473 (2017 est.) expenditures: $11,666,542 (2017 est.)
Economic overview
small New Zealand territorial island economy; labor force can work in New Zealand or Australia; significant remittances; largely solar-powered infrastructure; reliant on New Zealand funding; stamp, coin, and crafts producer
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.652 (2024 est.) 1.628 (2023 est.) 1.577 (2022 est.) 1.414 (2021 est.) 1.542 (2020 est.)
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
GDP (official exchange rate)
Imports - commodities
Imports - partners
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (2020 est.) 2.5% (2019 est.) 11% (2017 est.) note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely to cigarette prices, a chief import.
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7,711,583 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars.
Broadcast media
Sky TV access for about a third of the population; each atoll operates a radio service with shipping news and weather reports (2019)
Internet country code
.tk
Internet users
percent of population: 58.3% (2021 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand