Country Profile: Tokelau

Tokelau is a remote territory of New Zealand, comprising three atolls—Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu—located in the South Pacific Ocean. With a small population estimated at 2,453 in 2024, most Tokelauans reside in New Zealand due to limited economic opportunities. The economy primarily relies on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and remittances from abroad while governance is organized as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with the Ulu o Tokelau as the head of government.

Geography

Tokelau consists of three low-lying coral atolls that encircle large lagoons, located halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. The territory has a total area of just 12 square kilometers and is prone to tropical cyclones. Natural resources are limited, primarily consisting of fish, making the atolls vulnerable to environmental changes.

12 sq km – Total area of Tokelau
101 km – Coastline length
200 nm – Exclusive economic zone
5 m – Highest point above sea level
0 m – Lowest point (Pacific Ocean)

People and Society

The population of Tokelau is estimated to be 2,453 in 2024, with a diverse ethnic composition. The majority identify as Tokelauan (64.5%), followed by various Pacific Islander groups. The population exhibits a high literacy rate of 100% and predominantly practices Christianity. Residents live predominantly in traditional village structures, with no urban population.

0% – Urban population (2023)
99.7% – Access to improved drinking water (2022)
52.7 – Total dependency ratio (2024)
1.67 – Physician density (2021)

Economy

Tokelau's economy is small and largely supported by New Zealand's funding, with significant remittances from Tokelauans residing abroad. The economic activities include small-scale agriculture and crafts. The territory produces stamps, coins, and handcrafted goods while facing challenges from limited resources and dependency on external aid.

$12.658 million – GDP (2017 est.)
$6,004 – GDP per capita (2017 est.)
$24 million – Estimated revenues (2017 est.)
Coconuts and tropical fruits – Main agricultural products (2023)

Government

Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand that operates under its own parliamentary democracy with a unique governance framework. The territory has no designated capital, and authority is shared among its three atolls, with decisions made by a Council of Elders. The head of government, or Ulu o Tokelau, rotates among the atolls annually.

King CHARLES III – Current head of state since 2022
Ulu o Tokelau – Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since March 2025)
20 – Seats in the unicameral General Fono
15% – Percentage of women in the legislative chamber

Military and Security

Defense matters for Tokelau are the responsibility of New Zealand, which provides security and military support to ensure the safety of the territory.

Environment

Environmental challenges in Tokelau include overfishing, pollution from improper disposal of chemicals, and damage to marine resources. The tropical climate is affected by trade winds, and the land use reflects a heavy reliance on sustainable agriculture.

60% – Agricultural land use (2023)
100% – Access to sanitation facilities (2022)

Communications

The communication infrastructure in Tokelau is limited. Approximately 58.3% of the population used the internet as of 2021, with fixed-line telephone subscriptions relatively low. Each atoll operates its own radio service, providing essential information to residents.

300 – Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2010)
58.3% – Internet penetration rate (2021)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,453	Est. 2024
Area	12 sq km	Total area
GDP	$12.658 million	Est. 2017
GDP per capita	$6,004	Est. 2017
Agricultural land	60%	Land use (2023)
Literacy	100%	Total population (2022)
Physician density	1.67	Per 1,000 population (2021)
Improved drinking water access	99.7%	Total population (2022)
Urban Population	0%	Total population (2023)
Total dependency ratio	52.7	Est. 2024