2018 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 1,618 in 2017) 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

0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean

note

80 highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake

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; the only major break in the surrounding coral reef occurs in the central western part of the coast

Irrigated Land

0 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 3.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 11.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.8% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

19.1% (2011 est.)

forest

71.2% (2011 est.)

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

tropical cyclones

Natural Resources

arable land, fish

Population Distribution

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 98.4% of population

rural: 98.6% of population

total: 98.5% of population

unimproved: 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

7.4% of GDP (2014)

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 (2017 est.)

male

NA (2017 est.)

total population

NA (2017 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

50% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.84 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,618 (July 2017 est.)

note

because of the island's limited economic and educational opportunities, Niueans have emigrated for decades - primarily to New Zealand, but also to Australia and other Pacific island states; Niue's population peaked in 1966 at 5,194, but by 2005 had fallen to 1,508; since then it has rebounded slightly; as of 2013, 23,883 people of Niuean ancestry lived in New Zealand - with more than 20% Niue-born; this means that there are about 15 times as many persons of Niuean living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world

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

improved: urban: 100% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)

total: 100% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

note

NA

Total Fertility Rate

NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.69% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

44.8% of total population (2018)

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

amendments

proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by the majority of votes in a referendum; passage of amendments to a number of sections including Niue’s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two-thirds of votes in a referendum; amended 1992, 2007 (2017)

history

several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974) (2017)

Country Name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Niue

etymology

the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"

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

note

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

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

note

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 Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); 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) 15, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 5

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 12 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)

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 (Fouo Ekepule) in free association with New Zealand

Independence

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

International Organization Participation

ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

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

note

Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program, which is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries

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 - independent 20; composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%

elections

last held on 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)

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 AINiue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

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 (FY04/05)

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. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue.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. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half.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.

Exchange Rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.416 (2017 est.)

1.4279 (2016 est.)

1.4279 (2015)

1.4279 (2014 est.)

1.2039 (2013 est.)

Exports

$201,400 (2004 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

23.5% (2003)

industry

26.9% (2003)

services

49.5% (2003)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$10.01 million (2003) (2003)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$5,800 (2003 est.)

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$10.01 million (2003 est.)

Gdp Real Growth Rate

6.2% (2003 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$9.038 million (2004 est.)

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

Population Below Poverty Line

NA

Unemployment Rate

12% (2001)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

7,252 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Consumption

2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

2,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

50 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

54 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 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

91.6% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,090 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2015)

international

country code - 683 (2015)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

total

1 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1 (2013)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Alofi

Roadways

paved

210 km (2017)

total

234 km (2017)

Military Branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Disputes International

none