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 1,311 in 2011) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

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

one of world's largest coral islands

1,311 (July 2011 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population (2008)

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)

English (official), Niuean (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan)

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

none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order

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)

18 years of age; universal

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)

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

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; 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

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.)

$10.01 million (2003)

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

handicrafts, food processing

3 million kWh (2007 est.)

2.79 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

30.66 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

$9.038 million (2004)

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

$418,000 (2002 est.)

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1 government-owned television station with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2009)

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand