Australia-Oceania :: NIUE

  • Introduction :: NIUE

  • 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 continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,190 in 2014) 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
    Oceania
    total: 260 sq km
    land: 260 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 213
    1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
    0 km
    64 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
    steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
    mean elevation: NA
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m
    fish, arable land
    agricultural land: 19.1%
    arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8%
    forest: 71.2%
    other: 9.7% (2011 est.)
    0 sq km (2012)
    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 and Society :: NIUE

  • 1,190 (July 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 235
    noun: Niuean(s)
    adjective: Niuean
    Niuen 66.5%, part-Niuen 13.4%, non-Niuen 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)
    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.)
    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.)
    -0.03% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 205
    urban population: 42.5% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: -0.94% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)
    NA
    total: NA
    male: NA
    female: NA
    total population: NA
    male: NA
    female: NA
    NA
    7.4% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    3 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
    improved:
    urban: 98.4% of population
    rural: 98.6% of population
    total: 98.5% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 1.6% of population
    rural: 1.4% of population
    total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 100% of population
    rural: 100% of population
    total: 100% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0% of population
    rural: 0% of population
    total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    42.5% (2014)
    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
    etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"
    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 (Fouo Ekepule) in free association with New Zealand
    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
    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)
    several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992, 2007 (2016)
    English common law
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Ross ARDEN (since February 2014)
    head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
    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 24 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
    election results: Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 12, Stanley KALAUNI 8
    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 12 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
    election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
    highest resident court(s): 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
    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, WIPO, 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; 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
    yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow
    name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)
    lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
    note: adopted 1974

  • Economy :: NIUE

  • 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.
    $10.01 million (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 229
    $10.01 million (2003)
    6.2% (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 26
    $5,800 (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    agriculture: 23.5%
    industry: 26.9%
    services: 49.5% (2003)
    coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
    handicrafts, food processing
    NA%
    663 (2001)
    country comparison to the world: 230
    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: 136
    NA%
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $15.07 million
    expenditures: $16.33 million (FY04/05)
    -12.6% of GDP (FY04/05)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    1 April - 31 March
    4% (2005)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    $201,400 (2004 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 222
    canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
    Germany 25%, Belgium 11%, United Kingdom 8%, France 8%, Italy 4%, United States 4% (2014)
    $9.038 million (2004 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 222
    food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
    Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 9%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 7%, Russia 5%, France 4%, Norway 4% (2014)
    $418,000 (2002 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
    1.4279 (2015)
    1.2187 (2013)
    1.2187 (2013)
    1.23 (2012)
    1.263 (2011)

  • Energy :: NIUE

  • 4 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 218
    3.72 million kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 216
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    0 kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    1,000 kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 22
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    60 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 212
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    64.25 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 109
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    3,520 Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 212

  • Communications :: NIUE

  • domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island
    international: country code - 683 (2015)
    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 (2009)
    .nu
    total: 1,090
    percent of population: 91.6% (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 213

  • Transportation :: NIUE

  • 1 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 228
    total: 1
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
    total: 1
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
    total: 120 km
    paved: 120 km (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    major seaport(s): Alofi

  • Military and Security :: NIUE

  • no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
    defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

  • Transnational Issues :: NIUE

  • none