Country Profile: Tokelau

Tokelau is a small group of three atolls located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. With a total population of around 2,453, the people of Tokelau primarily engage in a subsistence economy, heavily reliant on fishing and small-scale agriculture. The governance system is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with political representation rotating among the atolls. Despite its challenges, including geographical isolation and limited economic opportunity, Tokelau maintains a unique cultural identity shaped by its Polynesian heritage.

Geography

Tokelau consists of three low-lying coral atolls: Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunonu, encompassing a total area of 12 square kilometers. The atolls feature tropical climates moderated by trade winds, and all have large lagoons surrounded by islets. Due to their location, Tokelau is prone to natural hazards like cyclones. Approximately 60% of land use is dedicated to agriculture, primarily for permanent crops.

101 km of coastline.
200 nm exclusive economic zone.
5 m highest point above sea level.
0 km of land boundaries.

People and Society

The population of Tokelau is predominantly Tokelauan, with a unique ethnic mix that includes Samoan and Tuvaluan influences. As of 2024, the population is estimated at 2,453, with a very high literacy rate of 100%. The majority of residents follow Christianity, mainly the Congregational Christian Church. Most of the population lives in rural settings, with a significant portion (about 80%) residing in New Zealand due to limited local economic opportunities.

100% literacy rate as of 2022.
99.7% of the population has access to improved drinking water.
52.7 total dependency ratio (2024).
-3.84 net migration rate (2021).

Economy

Tokelau's economy is small and largely dependent on funding from New Zealand, with many residents working abroad. The economy is characterized by small-scale agriculture, fishing, and crafting industries producing stamps and coins. Significant remittances from Tokelauans living in New Zealand support the local economy. While GDP figures remain modest, the reliance on external funding highlights the vulnerabilities faced by the territory.

$7.7 million in real GDP (2017 est.).
$6,004 GDP per capita (2017 est.).
2.5% inflation rate in 2019.
$24.3 million in budget revenues (2017 est.).

Government

Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, governed by a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The political structure includes a rotating capital among the three atolls and a General Fono (parliament) composed of locally elected representatives. The head of government, known as the Ulu o Tokelau, rotates annually among leaders from the three atolls. Despite efforts towards self-governance, referendums to change their political status have not met the required majority.

21 years is the minimum voting age.
20 seats in the General Fono.
15% representation of women in the legislature as of 2023.

Military and Security

The defense of Tokelau is the responsibility of New Zealand, which provides security and military support. Tokelau does not maintain its own military forces, relying on New Zealand for national defense matters.

Energy

Tokelau has made strides toward sustainability, with much of its infrastructure powered by solar energy. This initiative aligns with its broader efforts to address energy needs amidst limited natural resources.

Environment

Environmental issues in Tokelau include overfishing and pollution affecting coastal and freshwater resources. The tropical climate poses challenges in terms of natural disasters, particularly cyclones, which occur within the Pacific cyclone belt.

Communications

Tokelau's telecommunications infrastructure includes limited fixed-line connections and radio services offering news and weather reports across the atolls. Internet accessibility is moderate, with about 58.3% of the population using the internet as of 2021.

300 fixed-line subscriptions (2010 est.).
58.3% internet penetration rate (2021 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,453	2024 estimate
Area	12 sq km	Total land area
GDP	$12.658 million	2017 estimate
Literacy	100%	2022 estimate
Energy Consumption	N/A	Not provided
Birth Rate	N/A	Not provided
Unemployment	N/A	Not provided
Climatology	Tropical	Moderated by trade winds
Urbanization	0%	2023 estimate
Dependency Ratio	52.7	2024 estimate