Overview: Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development. The islands have a subsistence economy, and the people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services. 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.

GDP: $1 million, per capita $670; real growth rate NA% (1983)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $430,830; expenditures $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (FY87)

Exports: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983); @m5commodities--stamps, copra, handicrafts; @m5partners--NZ

Imports: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983); @m5commodities--foodstuffs, building materials, fuel; @m5partners--NZ

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity: 200 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced, 170 kWh per capita (1988)

Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods, stamps, coins

Agriculture: coconuts, copra; basic subsistence crops--pulaka, breadfruit, pawpaw, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Aid: New Zealand subsidy, $2 million (FY87)

Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.5985 (January 1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

NOTE: The information regarding Tokelau on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Tokelau Economy 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Tokelau Economy 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.