2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,444 in 2008), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography
Area
total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Coastline
64 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Environment - current issues
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Geography - note
one of world's largest coral islands
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 11.54% permanent crops: 15.38% other: 73.08% (2005)
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
fish, arable land
Terrain
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA (2008 est.)
Death rate
NA (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA female: NA
Nationality
noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Net migration rate
NA (2008 est.)
Population
1,444 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.032% (2008 est.)
Religions
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)
Sex ratio
NA
Total fertility rate
NA (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
Capital
name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: Savage Island
Dependency status
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000) head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
Flag 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 star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross
Government type
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Independence
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
International organization participation
ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Legal system
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Budget
revenues: $15.07 million expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405)
Currency (code)
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code
NZD
Debt - external
$418,000 (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)
Economy - overview
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. 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 emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
Electricity - consumption
3.72 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
4 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Exports
$201,400 (2004)
Exports - commodities
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Exports - partners
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2006)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 23.5% industry: 26.9% services: 49.5% (2003)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
6.2% (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.01 million (2003)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.6 million (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$9.038 million (2004)
Imports - commodities
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports - partners
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (2005)
Labor force
663 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
20 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
26.57 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
12% (2001)
Communications
Internet country code
.nu
Internet hosts
382,599 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
900 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Telephone system
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use
1,100 (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
400 (2002)
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only
Roadways
total: 120 km paved: 120 km (2008)
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Military branches
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008