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 1,492 in 2007), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total
260 sq km
land
260 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
64 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point
unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources
fish, arable land
Land use
arable land
11.54%
permanent crops
15.38%
other
73.08% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons
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, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
one of world's largest coral islands
Population
1,492
note: based on data for 2000 and 2001, which indicate a declining population trend that is assumed to continue (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
NA
15-64 years
NA
65 years and over
NA
Population growth rate
-0.032% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Net migration rate
NA
Sex ratio
NA
Infant mortality rate
total
NA
male
NA
female
NA
Life expectancy at birth
total population
NA
male
NA
female
NA
Total fertility rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Niuean(s)
adjective
Niuean
Ethnic groups
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
Religions
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)
Languages
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy
definition
NA
total population
95%
male
NA
female
NA
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Niue
former
Savage Island
Dependency status
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
Government type
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital
name
Alofi
geographic coordinates
19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference
UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
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
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
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 Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet
Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections
the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 12 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2008)
election results
Young VIVIAN reelected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN 85%, O'Love JACOBSEN 15%
Legislative branch
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 30 April 2005 (next to be held in April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
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 one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Economy - overview
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 a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was about US$2 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$7.6 million (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.01 million (2003)
GDP - real growth rate
6.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
23.5%
industry
26.9%
services
49.5% (2003)
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
Unemployment rate
12% (2001)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (2005)
Budget
revenues
$15.07 million
expenditures
$16.33 million; including capital expenditures of $123,700 (FY04/05)
