Tokelau Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Population

2,453 (2024 est.)

Area

12 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map references

Oceania

Area — total

12 sq km

Area — land

12 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

About 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

101 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain

Low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation — highest point

Unnamed location 5 m

Elevation — lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

Fish

Land use — agricultural land

60% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — forest

0% (2022 est.)

Land use — other

40% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

The small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

Natural hazards

Lies in Pacific cyclone 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 (10 ft) above sea level

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,453 (2024 est.)

Population — male

1,201 (2024 est.)

Population — female

1,252 (2024 est.)

Nationality — noun

Tokelauan(s)

Nationality — adjective

Tokelauan

Ethnic groups

Tokelauan 64.5%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 9.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 2.8%, Tuvaluan 7.5%, Samoan 5.8%, other Pacific Islander 3.4%, other 5.6%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)

Languages

Tokelauan 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 ests.)

Religions

Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

52.7 (2024)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

40 (2024)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

12.6 (2024)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

7.9 (2024)

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2019 est.)

Net migration rate

-3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population distribution

The small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

Urbanization — urban population

0% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Literacy — total population

100% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

100% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

100% (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Overfishing; damage to forest resources; pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Land use — agricultural land

60% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — forest

0% (2022 est.)

Land use — other

40% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

0% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Tokelau

Country name — former

Union Islands, Tokelau Islands

Country name — 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

Government type

Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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

Capital — time difference

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Legal system

Common law system of New Zealand

Constitution — history

Many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Act 1948 of New Zealand)

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono

Citizenship

See New Zealand

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

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)

Executive branch — head of government

(Ulu o Tokelau) Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025)

Executive branch — 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)

Executive branch — 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

Legislative branch — legislature name

General Fono (Fono Fakamua)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

20

Legislative branch — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

3 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

26 January 2023

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

Independents (20)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

15%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

January 2026

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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega

Political parties

None

Diplomatic representation in the US

None (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US

None (territory of New Zealand)

International organization participation

PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Independence

None (territory of New Zealand)

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840)

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

National symbol(s)

Tuluma (fishing tackle box)

National color(s)

Blue, yellow, white

National anthem(s) — title

"God Save the King"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Unknown

National anthem(s) — 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

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017

$7,711,583 (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2017

$6,004 (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2016

$4,855 (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2015

$4,292 (2015 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.658 million (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

4% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.5% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

11% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

Coconuts, root vegetables, tropical fruits, pork, bananas, eggs, chicken (2023)

Industries

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

Budget — revenues

$24,324,473 (2017 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$11,666,542 (2017 est.)

Exports - partners

Czechia 92%, Singapore 2%, Brazil 1%, South Africa 1%, Sri Lanka 1% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Cars, telephones, garments, iron fasteners, fabric (2023)

Imports - partners

Samoa 31%, Italy 23%, France 21%, Netherlands 16%, Germany 2% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Integrated circuits, stone processing machines, refined petroleum, gas turbines, plastic products (2023)

Exchange rates — Currency

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

1.652 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

1.628 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

1.577 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

1.414 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

1.542 (2020 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

300 (2010 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2010 est.)

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 and Security⬆️ Top

Military - note

Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand