Non-self-governing territory of New Zealand
Non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, with its own elected General Fono responsible for most local matters.
Listed by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory.
National Identity
- Official name
- Tokelau
- 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
Sources:- Constitution of Tokelau ↗ - Government of Tokelau
- The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- National emblem
- National flag
- National anthem
- God Defend New ZealandThe national anthem of New Zealand.1:03
- Title (in English)
- God Defend New Zealand
- Title (in Māori)
- Aotearoa
- Lyrics
1God of Nations at Thy feet, In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our free land. Guard Pacific’s triple star From the shafts of strife and war, Make her praises heard afar, God defend New Zealand.
2Men of every creed and race, Gather here before Thy face, Asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our free land. From dissension, envy, hate, And corruption guard our State, Make our country good and great, God defend New Zealand.
3Peace, not war, shall be our boast, But, should foes assail our coast, Make us then a mighty host, God defend our free land. Lord of battles in Thy might, Put our enemies to flight, Let our cause be just and right, God defend New Zealand.
4Let our love for Thee increase, May Thy blessings never cease, Give us plenty, give us peace, God defend our free land. From dishonour and from shame, Guard our country’s spotless name, Crown her with immortal fame, God defend New Zealand.
5May our mountains ever be Freedoms ramparts on the sea, Make us faithful unto Thee, God defend our free land. Guide her in the nations’ van, Preaching love and truth to man, Working out Thy glorious plan, God defend New Zealand.
Source: - Citizens
- Tokelauans
- Official name:Constitution of Tokelau ↗ - Government of Tokelau
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
- Total area
- 12 km²
- Land area
- 12 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 101 km
- Terrain
Low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons - Highest point
- 5 m
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical moderated by trade winds (April to November) - Avg. temperature
- 27.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 26.3 to 28.1 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 2,824 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 28.2 27.4 26.5 337 February 28.1 27.2 26.3 318 March 28.1 27.3 26.3 283 April 28.3 27.5 26.4 222 May 28.3 27.5 26.5 227 June 28.1 27.4 26.5 187 July 27.9 27.1 26.3 179 August 27.8 27 26.2 166 September 27.8 27.1 26.2 169 October 28 27.1 26.2 205 November 28.2 27.3 26.3 221 December 28.2 27.4 26.4 310 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use2023
- Perm. crops60.0%Other40.0%
- Permanent crops
- 600 hectares (60.0%)
- Other land
- 400 hectares (40.0%)
Source:
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +3.18% per year+83 people/yearWorld Rank7thof 237
- Birth rate
- 20.5 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 5.6 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +16.1 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 27.6 yearsWorld Rank153rdof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years25.5%15-64 years65.7%65 years +8.8%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 8.8%
- Share aged under 18
- 30.9%
- Total dependency ratio
- 52
- Youth dependency ratio
- 39
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 13
- Sex ratio
- 0.96 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.6% 1.1% 70-79 1.4% 1.8% 60-69 3.5% 5.1% 50-59 4.5% 4.0% 40-49 5.3% 5.7% 30-39 7.4% 7.6% 20-29 8.8% 9.0% 10-19 9.0% 8.2% 0-9 8.9% 9.0% - 2026
- 0.44 above the replacement level for Tokelau ()2.54 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank75thof 237
- 1.23 daughters per woman0.23 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +15.0 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 15.0 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- +16.1 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 0.0% live in cities0 urban residents
- Population distribution
- The small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls.
- Ethnic groups2016
- Tokelauan64.5%Part Tokelauan/Samoan9.7%Part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan2.8%Tuvaluan7.5%Samoan5.8%Other Pacific Islander3.4%Other5.6%Unspecified0.8%
- Religions2016
- Congregational Christian Church50.4%Roman Catholic38.7%Presbyterian5.9%Other Christian4.2%Unspecified0.8%
- Languages
- Tokelauan (Gagana Tokelau), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyShared with New Zealand: the monarch in right of New Zealand is head of state.A New Zealand Act declares that Tokelau shall "form part of New Zealand" and provides for its government; the Governor-General of New Zealand was appointed Governor of Tokelau (Tokelau Act, long title, s. 3, Preamble).Sources:
- Tokelau Act 1948 (New Zealand), version 13 (2021) ↗, Tokelau Act, long title, s. 3, Preamble
- Tokelau Administration Regulations 1993 (SR 1993/257), reprint as at 3 September 2007, Tokelau Act, long title, s. 3, Preamble
- System of government
- Executive appointed by the parent stateThe Administrator, appointed by New Zealand's Foreign Minister and subject to the Minister's control, administers the executive government; powers delegated to the General Fono (national assembly), revocable at will, are exercised between sessions by the Council of Faipule (Regs. 3, 4, 6, 7).Sources:
- Tokelau Act 1948 (New Zealand), version 13 (2021) ↗, Regs. 3, 4, 6, 7
- Tokelau Administration Regulations 1993 (SR 1993/257), reprint as at 3 September 2007, Regs. 3, 4, 6, 7
- Official websites
- National holidays
- 6 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- ThuSep 3Tokehega Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Boxing Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- TKTTokelau TimeUTC+13
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Calling code
- +690
- Internet TLD
- .tk
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- TK, TKL
- Form of state, System of government:Tokelau Act 1948 (New Zealand), version 13 (2021) ↗ - Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand)
- Form of state, System of government:Tokelau Administration Regulations 1993 (SR 1993/257), reprint as at 3 September 2007 - Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
Economy
- Trade2023
- Source:
- The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- Industries
- small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods
- stamps, coins
- fishing
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
Cost of Living
Society
- Literacy2022
- 100% of adults
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Crime & Safety
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 77.4 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 3.8 per 1,000 live births
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
Environment
- 2024
- 1.1 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted229thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- overfishing
- damage to forest resources
- pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
- International agreements
- 0 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 5 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement not a party UN Framework Convention on Climate Change not a party Kyoto Protocol not a party Ozone layer Montreal Protocol not a party Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) not a party Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity not a party CITES not a party Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety not a party Nagoya Protocol not a party Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention not a party UN Convention to Combat Desertification not a party Chemicals and waste Basel Convention not a party Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) not a party Minamata Convention on Mercury not a party Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea not a party High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) not a party MARPOL 73/78 not a party Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Tokelau - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- Obesity2024
- 70.7% of adults
- Men
- 66.7%
- Women
- 74.3%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization