Tokelau

Parliamentary Democracy Under A Constitutional MonarchyPop2KGDP$7.7MCP0.0→Beta

Tokelau

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Overview

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

Area

Land: 12 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 12 sq km

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Land Use

Other: 40% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Location: Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Coastline: 101 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Map references: Oceania

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Natural resources: fish
Area comparative: about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Population distribution: the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 100% (2022 est.)
Female: 100% (2022 est.)
Total population: 100% (2022 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.)

Population

Male: 1,201 (2024 est.)
Total: 2,453 (2024 est.)
Female: 1,252 (2024 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Tokelauan(s)
Adjective: Tokelauan

Urbanization

Urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 52.7 (2024)
Youth dependency ratio: 40 (2024)
Potential support ratio: 7.9 (2024)
Elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2024)

Physician density: 1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Net migration rate: -3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.01% (2019 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Government

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

Capital

Note: note: there is no designated, official capital for Tokelau; the location of the capital rotates among the three atolls along with the head of government or Ulu o Tokelau
Time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Citizenship: see New Zealand

Constitution

Note: note: Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory and has been administered by New Zealand since 1926; Tokelau is considered "part of New Zealand” 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
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

Country Name

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
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Tokelau

Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
Legal system: common law system of New Zealand
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

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

Executive Branch

Note: 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
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)
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 Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025)
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

National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840)
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
National color(s): blue, yellow, white
Political parties: none

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 3 years
Number of seats: 20
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislature name: General Fono (Fono Fakamua)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 26 January 2023
Expected date of next election: January 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 15%
Parties elected and seats per party: independents (20)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "God Save the King"
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
Lyrics/music: unknown

National symbol(s): tuluma (fishing tackle box)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
International organisations: PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $24,324,473 (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $11,666,542 (2017 est.)

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

Exchange Rates

Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 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
Exports partners: Czechia 92%, Singapore 2%, Brazil 1%, South Africa 1%, Sri Lanka 1% (2023)
Imports partners: Samoa 31%, Italy 23%, France 21%, Netherlands 16%, Germany 2% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $6,004 (2017 est.)

Note: note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2015: $4,292 (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2016: $4,855 (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2017: $6,004 (2017 est.)

Agricultural products: coconuts, root vegetables, tropical fruits, pork, bananas, eggs, chicken (2023)
Exports commodities: cars, telephones, garments, iron fasteners, fabric (2023)
Imports commodities: integrated circuits, stone processing machines, refined petroleum, gas turbines, plastic products (2023)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.658 million (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4% (2020 est.)

Note: note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely to cigarette prices, a chief import.
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 11% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 2.5% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 4% (2020 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Note: note: data are in 2017 dollars.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017: $7,711,583 (2017 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 58.3% (2021 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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 300 (2010 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2010 est.)

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 40% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Environmental issues: overfishing; damage to forest resources; pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals

Military & Security

Military note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Tokelau — vintage 2026-Q1: Tokelau factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/tokelau

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Sources: CIA World Factbook