_(2).jpg) Tokelauan dancers | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c.10,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Tokelau Samoa | |
| Languages | |
| Tokelauan,English | |
| Religion | |
| Congregationalism,Roman Catholic,Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherPolynesians |
TheTokelauans are aPolynesianethnic groupnative toTokelau, aPolynesianarchipelago in thePacific Ocean, who share the TokelauanPolynesian culture,history andlanguage.
The group's home islands are adependent territory ofNew Zealand. 77% of Tokelau's population of 1,650 claims Tokelauan ancestry,[1] while 8,676 Tokelauans live in New Zealand.[2] A small number also live inSamoa.
TheTokelauan language is part of thePolynesian language family. Most Tokelauans are fluent in bothEnglish and Tokelauan.[3] There are approximately 4,000 speakers, the majority of whom live in New Zealand.[4]
The majority of Tokelauans live in New Zealand, concentrated in theHutt Valley andPorirua,[5] as well asAuckland.[2] They are the sixth largestPacific Islander ethnic group in New Zealand, and one of the most socio-economically deprived.[5] Migration to New Zealand began in the 1950s and increased in the 1960s under a government resettlement scheme driven by fears of overpopulation and a tropical cyclone striking the islands.[6] The New Zealand-based population exceeded that of Tokelau in 1976, and immigration declined after that point.[6]
As of 2019, 50.4% of Tokelauan people belong to theCongregational Christian Church while 38.7% belong to theCatholic Church. The rest of the population adheres to various Christian denominations, such asPresbyterianism.[1] Roman Catholicism is mostly practiced in Nukunonu, whereas inhabitants of the islands ofAtafu andFakaofo adhere to Congregationalism. Prior to the arrival of Christianity, Tokelauans worshiped a god namedTui Tokelau.
Netball,rugby,football andcricket are popular in Tokelau. Tokelau Games are held yearly.[citation needed]
