2023 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. There was continued contact with both Samoa and Tonga, and customs from those islands heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide kingship system in the early 1700s. These kings, or patu-iki, were elected by Niueans. In 1774, British explorer James COOK abandoned attempts to land on the island after several unsuccessful tries, and he named it Savage Island because of the warlike appearance of the Niueans. 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 between Niueans and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. In 1889, King FATAAIKI and other chiefs asked the UK for protectorate status, a request that was repeated in 1895. The UK finally agreed in 1900 and King TOGIA-PULU-TOAKI formally ceded Niue that year. In 1901, 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, DC

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

19.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.)

forest

71.2% (2018 est.)

other

9.7% (2018 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

Age structure

0-14 years

NA

15-64 years

NA

65 years and over

NA

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.)

Birth rate

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.8% of GDP (2020)

Death rate

(2021 est.) NA

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

25.4

potential support ratio

3.9 (2021)

total dependency ratio

70.4

youth dependency ratio

44.9

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 97% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: data represent the resident population

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

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Nationality

adjective

Niuean

noun

Niuean(s)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

50% (2016)

Physicians density

NA

Population

2,000 (July 2022 est.)

note

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 ancestry living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world

Population distribution

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2021 est.)

Religions

Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 61.7%, Church of Jesus Christ 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Jehovah's Witness 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.2%, none 8.9% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 95.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 4.5% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

(2021 est.) NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

48.2% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

none; 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 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; amended 1992, 2007; note - in early 2021, the constitution review committee of the Assembly requested suggestions from the public about changes to the constitution

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 supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"

former

Savage Island

note

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 is 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

embassy

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

note

note: on 25 September 2023, the US officially established diplomatic relations with Niue

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

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 Helen TUNNAH (since July 2020)

election results

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

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 8 May 2023 (next to be held in 2026)

head of government

Premier Dalton TAGELAGI (since 10 June 2020)

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

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); 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

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 17, women 3, percent of women 15%

elections

last held on 29 April 2023 (next to be held in 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

name

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

note

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

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, taro, fruit, sweet potatoes, tropical fruit, yams, vegetables, lemons, limes, bananas

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

Debt - external 2002

$418,000 (2002 est.)

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 2013

1.2039 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.4279 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.4279 (2015)

Exchange rates 2016

1.4279 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.416 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$5.68 million (2021 est.)

Exports - commodities

tanker ships, collector's items, commemorative coins, fruits, nuts, juice, electrical resistors (2021)

Exports - partners

Indonesia 57%, Thailand 7%, South Korea 5%, Czechia 4%, Poland 4% (2021)

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)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2021

$43.8 million (2021 est.)

Imports - commodities

floating platforms, tugboats, refined petroleum, cargo ships, cars, plasticware (2021)

Imports - partners

New Zealand 41%, United Kingdom 40%, Japan 15%, Israel 3%, Fiji 1% (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

handicrafts, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2005

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

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 growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2003

6.2% (2003 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2009 dollars

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.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2001

12% (2001)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

8,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

8,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

2.6 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

3,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

400,000 kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

100 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.nu

Internet users

percent of population

79.6% (2021 est.)

total

1,512 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages on island; fixed teledensity at nearly 52 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

in 2020, the Manatua One Polynesia Fiber Cable provided Niue with high speed Internet access for the first time replacing a 4 megabit satellite link with gigabit fiber connectivity; the government set out a strategy to upgrade to a new infrastructure that would be robust enough to operate reliably in a challenging climate: 40 40°C heat, 40% humidity, salty air, frequent power outages during storms, and no air conditioning (2022)

international

country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands; expansion of satellite services (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

52 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 32

total

71 (2022)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Alofi

Roadways

paved

210 km (2017)

total

234 km (2017)

unpaved

24 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Military and security forces

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Disputes - international

none identified

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions

6.74 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

19.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.)

forest

71.2% (2018 est.)

other

9.7% (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

48.2% of total population (2023)