1996 Edition

Description

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Location

19 02 S, 169 52 W -- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga Flag ----

Area

comparative area

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

260 sq km

total area

260 sq km

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Coastline

64 km

Environment

current issues

traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant

international agreements

signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

natural hazards

typhoons

Geographic coordinates

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Geographic note

one of world's largest coral islands

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

61%

forest and woodland

19%

meadows and pastures

4%

other

12%

permanent crops

4%

Location

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

highest point

unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA years

male

NA years

total population

NA years

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

2,174 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.62% (1996 est.)

Religions

Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Alofi

Constitution

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Data code

NE

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)

head of government

Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (acting premier since NA December 1992, premier since 12 March 1993) was reelected by the Legislative Assembly; election last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)

Flag

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Independence

19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)

International organization participation

ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Judicial branch

Appeal Court of New Zealand; High Court

Legal system

English common law

Legislative Assembly

elections last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NPP 9, independents 11

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Niue

National holiday

Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)

Political parties and leaders

Niue Peoples Party (NPP), Young VIVIAN

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

US diplomatic representation

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Agriculture

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Budget

expenditures

$6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1985 est.)

revenues

$5.5 million

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.

Electricity

capacity

1,500 kW

consumption per capita

1,490 kWh (1992)

production

2.7 million kWh

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports

$117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

partners

NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.4 million (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$1,200 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

partners

NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (1992)

Labor force

1,000 (1981 est.)

by occupation

most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Police Force

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)

Radios

1,000

Telephone system

domestic

single-line telephone system connects all villages on island

international

NA

Telephones

276 (1992 est.)

Televisions

312 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

total

1

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

total

229 km

unpaved

229 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

none; offshore anchorage only

Railways

0 km