# Tokelau

> New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean

**Wikidata**: [Q36823](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36823)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokelau)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tokelau

## Summary
Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand located in the Pacific Ocean within the region of Insular Oceania. It is a political territorial entity and island group with a total land area of approximately 10 square kilometers and an administrative center located at Fakaofo.

## Key Facts
- **Political Status:** Dependent territory of New Zealand; does not possess full political independence.
- **Population:** 1,499 (recorded in 2016).
- **Land Area:** 10 square kilometers.
- **Administrative Center:** Fakaofo (preferred administrative centre).
- **Official Languages:** Tokelauan and English.
- **Currency:** New Zealand dollar (NZD).
- **Timezone:** UTC+13:00 (historically UTC+12:00).
- **International Memberships:** Associate member of UNESCO since October 15, 2001.
- **Internet and Communications:** Top-level domain is .tk; telephone country code is +690.
- **Driving Side:** Left.
- **National Anthem:** God Save the King.
- **Motto:** "Tokelau for the Almighty" (Tokelau za Всемогъщия).
- **ISO Codes:** ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: TK; alpha-3: TKL; numeric: 772.

## FAQs
**What is the relationship between Tokelau and New Zealand?**
Tokelau is a dependent territory located in New Zealand, meaning it is under New Zealand's sovereignty rather than being a fully independent state. It utilizes the New Zealand dollar as its official currency and recognizes "God Save the King" as its anthem.

**What are the marriage laws and age requirements in Tokelau?**
The marriageable age varies by gender and parental consent: males may marry at 21 (or 18 with parental consent), while females may marry at 19 (or 16 with parental consent). These regulations are established under the territory's specific legal framework.

**What symbols represent the identity of Tokelau?**
The territory is represented by a specific flag adopted on September 7, 2009, and a coat of arms known as the Symbol of Tokelau. Its cultural identity is further defined by its official languages, Tokelauan and English, and the motto "Tokelau for the Almighty."

**How is Tokelau classified in international data systems?**
Tokelau is identified by several unique codes, including the M49 code 772, the GACS ID 454, and the UNDP country code TOK. It is also cataloged in major knowledge databases under IDs such as VIAF 156083443 and GND 4236941-1.

## Why It Matters
Tokelau holds a distinct position as one of the world's smallest non-sovereign political entities, maintaining a population of fewer than 1,500 people across a minimal land area. Its associate membership in UNESCO highlights its active participation in international cultural and educational spheres despite its dependent status. Furthermore, Tokelau is globally recognized in the digital landscape through its .tk top-level domain, which is one of the most prolific country-code extensions in use. Its transition to a unique flag in 2009 signifies a move toward a distinct visual identity separate from that of New Zealand.

## Notable For
- **Territorial Status:** Classified as both an island group and a dependent territory of New Zealand.
- **Unique Timezone:** Operates on UTC+13:00, placing it among the first regions to start each day.
- **Digital Footprint:** Maintains the .tk top-level internet domain and the Unicode character 🇹🇰.
- **Administrative Structure:** Utilizes Fakaofo as its primary administrative hub.
- **Specific Demonyms:** Residents are known as Tokelauan, tocelau, tokelauano (masculine), tokelauana (feminine), or Tócalách.
- **Historical Names:** Also known by aliases such as the Union Islands, Tokelau Islands, and various linguistic translations like トケラウ諸島 and 托克勞.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Tokelau is situated in the Pacific Ocean within the geographic region of Insular Oceania. Its coordinates are approximately 9.1666666666667 south latitude and 171.83333333333 west longitude. The territory consists of an island group with a total area of 10 square kilometers. It is described in geographical sources as a "geoshape" under the mapping data for New Zealand/Tokelau.

### Governance and International Relations
As a dependent territory, Tokelau is under the jurisdiction of New Zealand. It has been an associate member of UNESCO since October 15, 2001. The territory is recognized by various international standards, including:
- **M49 Code:** 772
- **GACS ID:** 454
- **UNDP Country Code:** TOK
- **FIPS 10-4:** TL
- **Insee Code:** 99502

### Demographics and Culture
The population of Tokelau was recorded as 1,499 in 2016. The community is linguistically diverse, utilizing both Tokelauan and English as official languages. Cultural identifiers include the motto "Tokelau for the Almighty" and the "Symbol of Tokelau" coat of arms. The territory transitioned from using the New Zealand flag to its own specific flag on September 7, 2009.

### Infrastructure and Economy
The economy of Tokelau is linked to New Zealand, using the New Zealand dollar as its currency. Infrastructure details include:
- **Driving Side:** Left-hand traffic.
- **Telecommunications:** Country code +690.
- **Internet:** Top-level domain .tk.
- **Timekeeping:** Currently UTC+13:00, though historical records mention UTC+12:00.

### Legal Framework
Marriage laws in Tokelau are gender-specific regarding age. For males, the standard age is 21, reducible to 18 with parental consent. For females, the standard age is 19, reducible to 16 with parental consent.

### External Identifiers and Databases
Tokelau is extensively documented across global knowledge bases:
- **Library Identifiers:** VIAF (156083443), GND (4236941-1), Library of Congress (n92105545).
- **Geographic Databases:** GeoNames (4031074), OpenStreetMap (relation 2186600, node 433483572), Getty Thesaurus (7004686).
- **Academic/Scientific IDs:** ScienceDirect (social-sciences/tokelau), MeSH (M0017227), iNaturalist (10313).
- **Other Identifiers:** BabelNet (02369739n), Freebase (/m/07f9q), and the World Historical Gazetteer (12346807).

### Related Entities and Categories
Tokelau is associated with several Wikimedia categories and templates, including "Category:Tokelau," "Category:Maps of Tokelau," and the "Template:Atolls of Tokelau." It is distinguished from other entities with the same name in various encyclopedic records, such as the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and the Great Russian Encyclopedia.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. FIPS 10-4
5. MusicBrainz
6. The National Terminology Database for Irish
7. BBC Things
8. BabelNet
9. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)
10. [Source](http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/tk/legis/num_act/mr1986194/mr1986194.html)
11. iNaturalist
12. FactGrid
13. KBpedia