Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
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Dependency status:
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self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum on self-governance, in February 2006, did not produce the two thirds majority vote necessary for changing the current political status
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Independence:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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National holiday:
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Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
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Constitution:
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administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
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Legal system:
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New Zealand and local statutes
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Kolouei O'BRIEN (2006); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral General Fono (21 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Nukunonu has 6 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats, Atafu has 8 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono
elections: last held January 2005 (next to be held January 2008)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
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Political parties and leaders:
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none
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none
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International organization participation:
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PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Flag description:
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the flag of New Zealand is used
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Economy - overview:
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Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$1.5 million (1993 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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NA
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA%
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$1,000 (1993 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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Labor force:
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440 (2001)
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Unemployment rate:
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NA%
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats; fish
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Industries:
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small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh
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Exports:
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$0 f.o.b. (2002)
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Exports - commodities:
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stamps, copra, handicrafts
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Exports - partners:
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New Zealand (2004)
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Imports:
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$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
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Imports - partners:
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New Zealand (2004)
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Debt - external:
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$0
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Economic aid - recipient:
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about $4 million annually from New Zealand
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Currency (code):
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New Zealand dollar (NZD)
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Exchange rates:
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New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March
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Ports and terminals:
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none; offshore anchorage only
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
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Disputes - international:
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Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
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This page was last updated on 15 March, 2007
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