(self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
page last updated on May 20, 2010
Flag of Niue
Location of Niue
 
Map of Niue
Introduction ::Niue
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography ::Niue
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
19 02 S, 169 52 W
total: 260 sq km
country comparison to the world: 212
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
64 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Current Weather
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
fish, arable land
arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops: 15.38%
other: 73.08% (2005)
NA
typhoons
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
one of world's largest coral islands
People ::Niue
1,354 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 234
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
-0.032% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
NA
NA
NA
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
NA
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
NA
Government ::Niue
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee
former: Savage Island
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
self-governing parliamentary democracy
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to make its laws
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)
elections: last held on 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
NA
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
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
Economy ::Niue
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. 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. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. 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. Economic aid from New Zealand in FY08/09 was US$5.7 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
$10.01 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
$10.01 million (2003)
6.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$5,800 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)
663 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 227
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
12% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 131
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures: $16.33 million
4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 125
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
handicrafts, food processing
NA%
3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
2.79 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
NA bbl/day
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
31 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$201,400 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
$9.038 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 219
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
$418,000 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.6204 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005)
Communications ::Niue
1,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 227
600 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
international: country code - 683 (2001)
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
1 (1997)
.nu
396,370 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 50
1,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 214
Transportation ::Niue
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 218
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
total: 120 km
country comparison to the world: 212
paved: 120 km (2008)
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Niue
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues ::Niue
none