Tokelau (2001) | Northern Mariana Islands (2005) | |
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Administrative divisions | none (territory of New Zealand) | none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian |
Age structure | 0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 8,332/female 7,646)
15-64 years: 78.5% (male 26,121/female 36,982) 65 years and over: 1.6% (male 646/female 635) (2005 est.) |
Agriculture - products | coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats | coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle |
Airports | none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from Samoa | 5 (2004 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
Area | total:
10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian |
Area - comparative | about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | 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. According to a UN report, these low-lying islands will disappear in the 21st century, if global warming continues to raise sea levels. | Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978. |
Birth rate | NA births/1,000 population | 19.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
Budget | revenues:
$430,830 expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.) |
revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY01/02 est.) |
Capital | none; each atoll has its own administrative center | Saipan |
Climate | tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November) | tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October |
Coastline | 101 km | 1,482 km |
Constitution | administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970 | Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Tokelau |
conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands) |
Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD) | - |
Death rate | NA deaths/1,000 population | 2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
Debt - external | $0 | NA |
Dependency status | territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with Wellington | commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of New Zealand) | - |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of New Zealand) | - |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | $3.8 million (1995) | extensive funding from US |
Economy - overview | Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, 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. | The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions. |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh |
Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh |
Electricity - production | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
- |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m |
Environment - current issues | very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand | contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development |
Ethnic groups | Polynesian | Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census) |
Exchange rates | New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996) | the US dollar is used |
Executive branch | chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; 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 |
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since 14 January 2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENAVENTE (since 14 January 2002) cabinet: NA elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005) election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 42.8% |
Exports | $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983) | NA |
Exports - commodities | stamps, copra, handicrafts | garments |
Exports - partners | NZ | US (2000) |
Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March | 1 October - 30 September |
Flag description | the flag of New Zealand is used | blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $1.5 million (1993 est.) | - |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
agriculture: NA
industry: NA services: NA |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.) | purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate | NA% | NA |
Geographic coordinates | 9 00 S, 172 00 W | 15 12 N, 145 45 E |
Geography - note | - | strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean |
Heliports | - | 1 (2004 est.) |
Highways | total:
NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km |
total: 362 km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1991) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
Imports | $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983) | NA |
Imports - commodities | foodstuffs, building materials, fuel | food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products |
Imports - partners | NZ | US, Japan (2000) |
Independence | none (territory of New Zealand) | none (commonwealth in political union with the US) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA |
Industries | small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing | tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts |
Infant mortality rate | NA deaths/1,000 live births | total: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | NA% | 1.2% (1997 est.) |
International organization participation | SPC, WHO (associate) | Interpol (subbureau) |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 1 (2000) | - |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA |
Judicial branch | Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau | Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court |
Labor force | NA | 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (June 1995) |
Labor force - by occupation | - | NA |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.) |
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2001) |
Languages | Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English | Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census) |
Legal system | British and local statutes | based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation |
Legislative branch | unicameral General Fono (45 seats - 15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono | bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held 5 November 2005); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held 5 November 2005) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 1, independent 1 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population:
NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
total population: 75.88 years
male: 73.31 years female: 78.61 years (2005 est.) |
Literacy | - | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.) |
Location | Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand | Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines |
Map references | Oceania | Oceania |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Merchant marine | none (2000 est.) | - |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of New Zealand | defense is the responsibility of the US |
National holiday | Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840) | Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978) |
Nationality | noun:
Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan |
noun: NA
adjective: NA |
Natural hazards | lies in Pacific typhoon belt | active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November) |
Natural resources | NEGL | arable land, fish |
Net migration rate | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population | 8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
Political parties and leaders | none | Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [NA]; Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL] |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | NA |
Population | 1,445 (July 2001 est.) | 80,362 (July 2005 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA |
Population growth rate | -0.92% (2001 est.) | 2.61% (2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | Saipan, Tinian |
Radio broadcast stations | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998) |
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) |
Radios | 1,000 (1997) | - |
Railways | 0 km | - |
Religions | Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant |
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found) |
Sex ratio | - | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.71 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 0.78 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
Suffrage | 21 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections |
Telephone system | general assessment:
adequate domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations, established in 1997 |
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) |
Telephones - main lines in use | NA | 21,000 (2000) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 0 (2001) | 3,000 (2000) |
Television broadcast stations | NA | 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997) |
Terrain | low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons | southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic |
Total fertility rate | NA children born/woman | 1.27 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
Unemployment rate | NA% | NA |
Waterways | none | - |