Tokelau sits in Polynesia and is listed as a dependency rather than an independent state. Unlike most entries, its formal name adds nothing to the short one. Fakaofo is the capital.
By land area it covers 12 km², which ranks it 247th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and just ahead of Gibraltar. That makes it roughly half the size of Nauru.
Its recorded population is just 1,900, among the smallest anywhere. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 10th of 10 in size and 8th in population.
Where Tokelau is and what surrounds it
Its reference point sits at 9.0° south and 172.0° west, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,002 km from the equator, in what geographers would call the equatorial belt.
Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include Brazil, Peru and the Solomon Islands.
There is no land frontier at all — every boundary it has is a coastline. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, so everything and everyone arrives by sea or by air.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, population and language
Spread across 12 km², that works out at about 158 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.
People from Tokelau are called Tokelauans.
3 languages carry official status: English, Samoan and Tokelauan. Tokelauan is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Tokelau. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Inside Oceania it places 23rd of 27 by population, and it accounts for under 1% of everyone living in Polynesia.
Money, internet and phone codes
It uses the New Zealand dollar ($, NZD). It shares that currency with the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue and the Pitcairn Islands.
The top-level domain is .tk. Calls from overseas start with +690. Its ISO codes are tk and TKL, which is what most databases and flag files use.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Tokelau, the answer is Fakaofo.
On the UN list it does not appear as a member. It uses New Zealand's currency and issues none of its own, which is the usual mark of a dependency. Of the 250 entries here, 57 are territories or observers rather than member states.
Fun facts about Tokelau
- Ranked by land area, Tokelau is 247th out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- In land area it is roughly half the size of Nauru.
- It has no land border with any other country — one of 85 such entries in this dataset.
- Its currency, the New Zealand dollar, is shared with 4 other entries.
- English is official here and in 90 other entries worldwide.
- Websites based there use the .tk domain.
- Brazil and Peru sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
Tokelau — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Tokelau?
- The capital of Tokelau is Fakaofo.
- What currency does Tokelau use?
- Tokelau uses the New Zealand dollar, written $ (currency code NZD). It is shared with 4 other entries: the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue and the Pitcairn Islands.
- Does Tokelau border any other country?
- No. Tokelau has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
- Is Tokelau a country?
- Not in the political sense. Tokelau is a dependent territory rather than a sovereign state, and it is not a UN member. The dataset points to New Zealand as the administering state. It appears on this site because it has its own flag, codes and statistics, but it does not have a seat at the United Nations.
- What language is spoken in Tokelau?
- Tokelau lists 3 official languages: English, Samoan and Tokelauan. Tokelauan does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- What is the population of Tokelau?
- Tokelau has a population of about 1,900, which makes it the 239th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Norfolk Island sits just above it and Christmas Island just below.
- Where is Tokelau located?
- Tokelau is in Polynesia, part of Oceania. Its reference coordinates are 9.0° south and 172.0° west, roughly 1,002 km from the equator in equatorial latitudes.
- How big is Tokelau?
- Tokelau covers 12 km², ranking 247th of 250 by land area. That makes it roughly half the size of Nauru.
