2015 Edition

Background

Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the adjacent Cook Islands, has caused it to be separately administered by New Zealand. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,190 in 2014) 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 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8%

agricultural land

19.1%

forest

71.2%

other

9.7% (2011 est.)

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

Drinking water source

urban: 98.4% of population

rural: 98.6% of population

total: 98.5% of population

urban: 1.6% of population

rural: 1.4% of population

total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Niuen 66.5%, part-Niuen 13.4%, non-Niuen 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

7.1% of GDP (2013)

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

Niuean (official) 46% (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

42.5% (2014)

Physicians density

3 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,190 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2014 est.)

Religions

Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 67%, other Protestant 3% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 1%, Presbyterian 1%, and Methodist 1%), Mormon 10%, Roman Catholic 10%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 6%, none 2% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2005)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.94% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

42.5% of total population (2015)

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

several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992, 2007 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Niue

former

Savage Island

note

pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

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 chosen by the premier

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Ross ARDEN (since February 2014)

election results

Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 12, Stanley KALAUNI 8

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 24 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

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, WIPO, WMO

Judicial branch

note - Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program; the program is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries

highest resident court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal

judge selection and term of office

Niue chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the premier; other judges appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the chief justice and the minister of justice; judges serve until age 68

subordinate courts

High Court

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Assembly or Fono Ekepule (20 seats; 14 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 directly elected from the National Register or "common roll" by majority vote; members serve 3-year terms)

election results

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

elections

last held on 12 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

name

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

note

adopted 1974

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow

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 (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Budget

expenditures

$16.33 million (FY04/05)

revenues

$15.07 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-12.6% of GDP (FY04/05)

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 allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.2039 (2014)

1.2187 (2013)

1.23 (2012)

1.263 (2011)

1.3874 (2010)

Exports

$201,400 (2004)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 25%, Belgium 11%, United Kingdom 8%, France 8%, Italy 4%, United States 4% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$9.038 million (2004)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 9%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 7%, Russia 5%, France 4%, Norway 4% (2014)

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12% (2001)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3,520 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.79 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

3 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

20 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

22.57 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

1 government-owned TV 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 users

percent of population

92.4% (2014 est.)

total

1,100

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

single-line telephone system connects all villages on island

international

country code - 683 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Alofi

Roadways

paved

120 km (2011)

total

120 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Disputes - international

none