ne - Niue :: The World Factbook

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

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

Map references:

Area:

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

Coastline:

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:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m

Natural resources:

Land use:

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:

Population distribution:

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Natural hazards:

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, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography - note:

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

Population:

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

Nationality:

Ethnic groups:

Niuean 66.5%, part-Niuean 13.4%, non-Niuean 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% other Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)

Languages:

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:

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:

Population distribution:

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Urbanization:

urban population: 46.2% of total population (2020)

rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio:

Infant mortality rate:

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Drinking water source:

improved: total: 98.2% of population

unimproved: total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)

Current Health Expenditure:

Sanitation facility access:

improved: total: 96.8% of population

unimproved: total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases: malaria

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

Education expenditures:

Government

Country name:

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:

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:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W

time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind 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:

19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:

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

Legal system:

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 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:

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:

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:

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

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

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 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):

yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow

National anthem:

name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)

lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

note: adopted 1974

Economy

Economic overview:

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:

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:

$10.01 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.01 million (2003) (2003)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 23.5% (2003)

industry: 26.9% (2003)

services: 49.5% (2003)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores:

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

Labor force:

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:

Population below poverty line:

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

Budget:

revenues: 15.07 million (FY04/05)

expenditures: 16.33 million (FY04/05)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)

Fiscal year:

Exports:

$201,400 (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

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

Imports:

$9.038 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

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

Debt - external:

$418,000 (2002 est.)

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Energy

Electricity - production:

3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports:

Electricity - imports:

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

2,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

50 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports:

54 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production:

Natural gas - consumption:

Natural gas - exports:

Natural gas - imports:

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

7,252 Mt (2017 est.)

Communications

Telecommunication systems:

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

Niue :: Australia-Oceania

Introduction

Background:

Geography

Location:

Geographic coordinates:

Map references:

Area:

Area - comparative:

Land boundaries:

Coastline:

Maritime claims:

Climate:

Terrain:

Elevation:

Natural resources:

Land use:

Irrigated land:

Population distribution:

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

Environment - international agreements:

Geography - note:

People and Society

Population:

Nationality:

Ethnic groups:

Languages:

Religions:

Population growth rate:

Population distribution:

Urbanization:

Major urban areas - population:

Sex ratio:

Infant mortality rate:

Life expectancy at birth:

Total fertility rate:

Drinking water source:

Current Health Expenditure:

Sanitation facility access:

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Major infectious diseases:

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

Education expenditures:

Government

Country name:

Dependency status:

Government type:

Capital:

Administrative divisions:

Independence:

National holiday:

Constitution:

Legal system:

Suffrage:

Executive branch:

Legislative branch:

Judicial branch:

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Diplomatic representation from the US:

Flag description:

National symbol(s):

National anthem:

Economy

Economic overview:

GDP real growth rate:

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:

GDP (official exchange rate):

GDP - per capita (PPP):

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

Ease of Doing Business Index scores:

Agriculture - products:

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate:

Labor force: