Country Profile: Tokelau

Tokelau, a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, consists of three low-lying coral atolls—Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu—in the South Pacific Ocean. The islands were first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000 and have a small population of approximately 2,453 residents, with many living abroad in New Zealand. Economically, Tokelau is limited, relying on remittances and funding from New Zealand, while its governance is marked by traditional practices alongside modern democratic principles.

Geography

Tokelau is located in Oceania, approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It covers a total area of just 12 sq km, characterized by low-lying coral atolls that enclose large lagoons and is surrounded by a coastline of 101 km. The climate is tropical, influenced by trade winds from April to November, and the islands are prone to cyclones.

60% of the land is used for agriculture (2023 est.).
The highest elevation is 5 m above sea level.
The atolls have no freshwater sources, relying on rainwater and seawater desalination.

People and Society

Tokelau has a population of 2,453 (2024 est.), with a diverse ethnic composition including Tokelauan (64.5%) and other Pacific Islanders. The official languages are Tokelauan and English, with a literacy rate of 100% for both genders. Traditional religions dominate, with over half the population belonging to the Congregational Christian Church.

0% of the population is urbanized (2023).
99.7% of residents have access to improved drinking water (2022 est.).
The physician density is 1.67 physicians per 1,000 people (2021).

Economy

Tokelau's economy is small and heavily dependent on New Zealand for funding, with significant remittances from Tokelauans living there. The GDP (PPP) was estimated at $7.7 million in 2017, translating to about $6,004 per capita. The economy is mainly based on agriculture, small-scale industries, and crafts.

60% of land is dedicated to permanent crops (2023 est.).
Major agricultural products include coconuts and tropical fruits (2023).
92% of exports go to Czechia (2023).

Government

Tokelau operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with no designated capital and a rotating leadership among the atolls. The head of government, known as the Ulu o Tokelau, serves a one-year term, with governance heavily influenced by traditional councils. Tokelauans are New Zealand citizens, having been integrated into New Zealand's legal framework since 1948.

The General Fono, its unicameral legislature, has 20 seats.
The most recent election occurred on 26 January 2023.
The current head of government is Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025).

Military and Security

Tokelau does not maintain its own defense forces; instead, defense responsibilities lie with New Zealand, ensuring the territory's security through its military resources.

Communications

Communication services in Tokelau include limited fixed line access and a growing number of internet users—approximately 58.3% of the population as of 2021. Broadcast media includes local radio services and access to Sky TV for about a third of residents.

There were 300 fixed-line subscriptions reported in 2010.
The internet country code for Tokelau is .tk.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,453 (2024 est.)	Total estimated population
Area	12 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$7.7 million (2017)	Value in purchasing power parity
GDP per capita	$6,004 (2017)	GDP per capita in purchasing power parity
Literacy	100%	Literacy rate for total population (2022 est.)
Physician density	1.67	Physicians per 1,000 population (2021)
Agriculture land	60%	Percentage of land used for agriculture (2023 est.)
Urban population	0%	Percentage of the population living in urban areas (2023)
Drinking water access	99.7%	Access to improved drinking water (2022 est.)
Population growth rate	-0.01% (2019 est.)	Indicator of population decline