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Australia - Oceania :: Niue Print
Page last updated on December 15, 2020
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  • Introduction :: Niue
  • Background field listing
    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 has trended downwards over recent decades (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.
  • Geography :: Niue
  • Location field listing
    Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    19 02 S, 169 52 W
    Map references field listing
    Oceania
    Area field listing
    total: 260 sq km
    land: 260 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 212
    Area - comparative field listing
    1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
    Land boundaries field listing
    0 km
    Coastline field listing
    64 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    Climate field listing
    tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
    Terrain field listing
    steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
    Elevation field listing
    lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m
    Natural resources field listing
    arable land, fish
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 19.1% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 3.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 11.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.8% (2011 est.)
    forest: 71.2% (2011 est.)
    other: 9.7% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    0 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution field listing
    population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
    Natural hazards field listing
    tropical cyclones
    Environment - current issues field listing
    increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
    Environment - international agreements field listing
    party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
    Geography - note field listing
    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
  • People and Society :: Niue
  • Population field listing
    2,000 (2019)

    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

    country comparison to the world: 231
    Nationality field listing
    noun: Niuean(s)
    adjective: Niuean
    Ethnic groups field listing
    Niuean 66.5%, part-Niuean 13.4%, non-Niuean 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% other Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)
    Languages field listing
    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.)
    Religions field listing
    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.)
    Population growth rate field listing
    -0.03% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    Population distribution field listing
    population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 46.2% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio field listing
    NA
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: NA (2018)
    male: NA
    female: NA
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: NA (2017 est.)
    male: NA
    female: NA
    Total fertility rate field listing
    NA
    Drinking water source field listing
    improved: total: 98.2% of population
    unimproved: total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)
    Current Health Expenditure field listing
    8.6% (2017)
    Sanitation facility access field listing
    improved: total: 96.8% of population
    unimproved: total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    NA
    Major infectious diseases field listing
    degree of risk: high (2020)
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
    vectorborne diseases: malaria
    Obesity - adult prevalence rate field listing
    50% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 6
    Education expenditures field listing
    NA
  • Government :: Niue
  • Country name field listing
    conventional long form: none
    conventional short form: Niue
    former: Savage Island
    etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"

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

    Dependency status field listing
    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
    Government type field listing
    parliamentary democracy
    Capital field listing
    name: Alofi
    geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
    time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    Administrative divisions field listing
    none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
    Independence field listing
    19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
    National holiday field listing
    Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
    Constitution field listing
    history: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)
    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
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age; universal
    Executive branch field listing
    chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Kirk YATES (since May 2018)
    head of government: Premier Dalton TAGELAGI (since 10 June 2020)
    cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the premier
    elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 10 June 2020 (next to be held in 2023)
    election results: Dalton TAGELAGI elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 13, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 7; Toke TALAGI lost his seat in election
    Legislative branch field listing
    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)
    elections: last held on 30 May 2020 (next to be held on 2023)
    election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20
    Judicial branch field listing
    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
    subordinate courts: High Court

    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

    Political parties and leaders field listing
    Alliance of Independents or AI
    Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
    International organization participation field listing
    ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
    Diplomatic representation in the US field listing
    none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
    Diplomatic representation from the US field listing
    none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
    Flag description field listing
    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
    National symbol(s) field listing
    yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow
    National anthem field listing
    name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)
    lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

    note: adopted 1974

  • Economy :: Niue
  • Economic overview field listing

    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.

    GDP real growth rate field listing
    6.2% (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 25
    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    4% (2005)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    GDP (purchasing power parity) - real field listing
    $10.01 million (2003 est.)
    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $10.01 million (2003) (2003)
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $5,800 (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 23.5% (2003)
    industry: 26.9% (2003)
    services: 49.5% (2003)
    Ease of Doing Business Index scores field listing
    Agriculture - products field listing
    coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
    Industries field listing
    handicrafts, food processing
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    NA
    Labor force field listing
    663 (2001)
    country comparison to the world: 230
    Labor force - by occupation field listing

    note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

    Unemployment rate field listing
    12% (2001)
    country comparison to the world: 165
    Population below poverty line field listing
    NA
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 15.07 million (FY04/05)
    expenditures: 16.33 million (FY04/05)
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) field listing
    -12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)
    country comparison to the world: 215
    Fiscal year field listing
    1 April - 31 March
    Exports field listing
    $201,400 (2004 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 221
    Exports - commodities field listing
    canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
    Imports field listing
    $9.038 million (2004 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 224
    Imports - commodities field listing
    food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
    Debt - external field listing
    $418,000 (2002 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 202
    Exchange rates field listing
    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.)
  • Energy :: Niue
  • Electricity - production field listing
    3 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 216
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 215
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    2,300 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 213
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 64
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 68
    Crude oil - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 184
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    50 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    54 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    Natural gas - production field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 185
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    7,252 Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 212
  • Communications :: Niue
  • Telecommunication systems field listing
    general assessment: sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing due to mobile services (2020)
    domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018)
    international: country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands; expansion of satellite services (2019)
    note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
    Broadcast media field listing
    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 field listing
    .nu
    Internet users field listing
    total: 1,090
    percent of population: 91.6% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 225
  • Transportation :: Niue
  • Airports field listing
    1 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 230
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 1 (2017)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
    Airports - with unpaved runways field listing
    total: 1 (2013)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
    Roadways field listing
    total: 234 km (2017)
    paved: 210 km (2017)
    unpaved: 24 km
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Merchant marine field listing
    total: 61
    by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 1, general cargo 29, oil tanker 2, other 25 (2019)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Alofi
  • Military and Security :: Niue
  • Military and security forces field listing
    no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force (2019)
    Military - note field listing
    defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
  • Transnational Issues :: Niue
  • Disputes - international field listing

    none