Tokelau

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. TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

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

land: 12 sq km

water: 0 sq km

comparison ranking: total 240

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

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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

agricultural land: 60% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 60% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 40% (2022 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

Population

total: 2,453 (2024 est.)

male: 1,201 (2024 est.)

female: 1,252 (2024 est.)

comparison rankings: female 229; male 230; total 230

Nationality

noun: Tokelauan(s)

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.)

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

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)

youth dependency ratio: 40 (2024)

elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2024)

potential support ratio: 7.9 (2024)

Population growth rate

-0.01% (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: 197

Net migration rate

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

comparison ranking: 194

Population distribution

the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls

Urbanization

urban population: 0% of total population (2023)

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

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 99.7% of population

total: 99.7% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0.3% of population

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

Physician density

1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

rural: 100% of population

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52% (2023 est.)

Environment

Environment – current 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% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 60% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 0% (2022 est.)

other: 40% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 0% of total population (2023)

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

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

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

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)

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

Administrative divisions

none (territory of New Zealand)

Legal system

common law system of 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 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

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)

head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Esera Fofō 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

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

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

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 (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Flag description

a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the Southern Cross constellation with four white five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the stars 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

name: “Te Atua” (For the Almighty)

lyrics/music: 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, in addition to “God Defend New Zealand,” “God Save the King” serves as a royal anthem (see United Kingdom); “God Save the King” normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present; in all other cases, “God Defend New Zealand” is played (see New Zealand)