1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
32 km
Comparative area
less than one-fourth the size of Washington, D.C.
Contiguous zone
12 nm
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
subject to typhoons (especially May to July)
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Labor force
about 1,000 (1981); most Niueans work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 25% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other
Language
Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy
education compulsory between 5 and 14 years of age
Special notes
none
Terrain
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
40 km2; land area: 40 km2
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently, Australian and New Zealand settlers
Nationality
noun — Norfolk Islanders); adjective — Norfolk Islander
Population
2,537 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.56%
Religion
Church of England, Roman Catholic Church, Uniting Church in Australia, and Seventh-Day Adventists
Government
Administrative divisions
14 village councils
Branches
Executive consists of a Cabinet of four members — the Premier (elected by the Assembly) and three ministers (chosen by the Premier from among Assembly members); Legislative Assembly consists of 20 members (14 village representatives and 6 elected on a common roll); if requested by the Assembly, New Zealand will also legislate for the island
Capital
Alofi
Elections
every three years; last election held March 1984
Government leaders
Sir Robert R. REX, Premier (since early 1950s); John SPRINGFORD, New Zealand Representative (since 1974)
Legal system
English common law
Member of
ESCAP (associate member), SPF
Official name
Niue
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
(since 1974) self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niueans retain New Zealand citizenship
Economy
Agriculture
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops — taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Budget
revenues (including New Zealand subsidy of $2.3 million) $3.2 million; expenditures, $3.8 million (FY83/84 est.)
Electric power
1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$301,224 (f.o.b. 1983); canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, handicrafts
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
Fishing
930,000 metric tons (1982)
GNP
$3 million (1984), per capita GDP $1,080 (1984)
Imports
$1,504,180 (c.i.f. 1983); food and live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Major industries
small tourist industry
Major trade partners
exports — New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia; imports — New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Western Samoa, Australia, US
Monetary conversion rate
uses New Zealand currency; NZ$1.93=US$1 (November 1986)
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runway of 1,650 m (capable of taking intermediate-size jet aircraft)
Highways
123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads
Ports
no natural harbor; open roadstead offers anchorage offshore from Alofi, from where servicing is by small boat
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1983 est.); 1 radio station; no TV service Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand GWeMM .Burnt Pin*