2010 Edition

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 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Area

land

260 sq km

total

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

highest point

unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 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, Ozone Layer Protection

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%

other

73.08% (2005)

permanent crops

15.38%

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 hazards

typhoons

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

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

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Languages

English (official), Niuean a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

definition: NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

95%

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Net migration rate

NA

Population

1,354 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.032% (2010 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)

female

12 years (2005)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

39% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

19 01 S, 169 55 W

name

Alofi

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: pronunciation 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

cabinet

Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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)

election results

Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

head of government

Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)

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; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Independence

19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, 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 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents

elections

last held on 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA note: adopted 1974

name

"Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)

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

Agriculture - products

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

Debt - external

$418,000 (2002 est.)

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 financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in FY08/09 was US$5.7 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

2.79 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)

Exports

$201,400 (2004)

Exports - commodities

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

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)

$10.01 million (2003 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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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 (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

31 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12% (2001)

Broadcast media

1 government-owned television station with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2009)

Internet country code

.nu

Internet hosts

397,270 (2010)

Internet users

1,100 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

single-line telephone system connects all villages on island

international

country code - 683 (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,100 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

600 (2004)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Alofi

Roadways

paved

120 km (2008)

total

120 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 12, 2011 ======================================================================