2020 Edition

Background

Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900, and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. Samoan and Tongan customs heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide elected kingship system in the early 1700s. In 1774, British explorer James COOK landed on the island and named it Savage Island because of the Niueans' hostility. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. Great Britain established a protectorate over Niue in 1900. The following year, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue’s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized Niue as a sovereign and independent state.

Area

land

260 sq km

total

260 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Coastline

64 km

Elevation

highest point

unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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 (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

18.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)

forest

72.6% (2023 est.)

other

9% (2023 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

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

26.4 (2024)

potential support ratio

3.8 (2024)

total dependency ratio

64.6 (2024)

youth dependency ratio

38.2 (2024)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

5.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

7.8% of GDP (2020)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Languages

Niuean 46% (official, 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

75.7 years (2016 est.)

male

71.8 years (2016)

Literacy

female

100% (2022 est.)

male

100% (2022 est.)

total population

99.5% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

50% (2016)

Population

female

938 (2024 est.)

male

877 (2024 est.)

total

1,815 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2021 est.)

Religions

Ekalesia Niue 61.7%, Latter Day Saints 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, other 8.2%, not stated 5.1%, none 3.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

48.2% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered second-order

Capital

etymology

a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century

geographic coordinates

19 01 S, 169 55 W

name

Alofi

time difference

UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority 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

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Niue

etymology

the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word translates as "behold the coconut;" the former name, Savage Island, was the result of an acrimonious meeting in 1774 between English explorer Captain James COOK and local people

former

Savage Island

Dependency status

self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides necessary economic and administrative assistance to Niue, as well as assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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 prime minister

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024)

election results

Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term

expected date of next election

2026

head of government

Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)

most recent election date

8 May 2023

Flag

description: yellow with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars, with a large star on a blue disk in the center and smaller stars on each arm of the red cross meaning: the large star represents Niue, and the smaller stars symbolize links with New Zealand; yellow stands for sunshine, as well as the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand

Government type

parliamentary democracy

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 court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)

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

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

April 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)

most recent election date

29 April 2023

number of seats

20

parties elected and seats per party

independents (20)

percentage of women in chamber

15%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

3 years

National anthem(s)

history

in use since 1745

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National color(s)

yellow

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

yellow five-pointed star

Political parties

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)

Economic overview

upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; environmentally fragile; massive emigration; post-pandemic tourism rebound; postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming; most recent Asian Development Bank member

Exchange rates

Currency

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.414 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.577 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.628 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.652 (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

abrasive powder, coin (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)

Imports - partners

NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023)

Industries

handicrafts, food processing

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$20.9 million (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$19.9 million (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$18.7 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2019

$12,400 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$11,800 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$11,100 (2021 est.)

Electricity

consumption

3 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

3,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

400,000 kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

61 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station, with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 state-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2019)

Internet country code

.nu

Internet users

percent of population

80% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

52 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30

total

70 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Alofi

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

0

small

0

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government

Military and security forces

no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)