Page last updated on February 8,

Location:
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:
9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 12 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 241
land: 12 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
101 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain:
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 100% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Environment - current issues:
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Geography - note:
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level