Niue

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.nu

Internet users

total: 1,090 | percent of population: 91.6% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Telephone system

domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island | international: country code - 683 (2015)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $15.07 million | expenditures: $16.33 million (FY04/05)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-12.6% of GDP (FY04/05) | country comparison to the world: 205

Debt - external

$418,000 (2002 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Economy - 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.

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - | 1.4341 (2016) | 1.4279 (2015) | 1.4279 (2014 est.) | 1.2039 (2013 est.) | 1.23 (2012 est.)

Exports

$201,400 (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.01 million (2003 est.) | country comparison to the world: 228

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 23.5% | industry: 26.9% | services: 49.5% (2003)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,800 (2003 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

GDP - real growth rate

6.2% (2003 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$9.038 million (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

handicrafts, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2005) | country comparison to the world: 163

Labor force

663 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 231

Labor force - by occupation

note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12% (2001) | country comparison to the world: 151

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3,520 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - consumption

2.79 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

Electricity - production

3 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 177

Refined petroleum products - consumption

60 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - imports

64.25 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Area

total: 260 sq km | land: 260 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 213

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Coastline

64 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m

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

Geographic coordinates

19 02 S, 169 52 W

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 19.1% | arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8% | forest: 71.2% | other: 9.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Population - distribution

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

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

Capital

name: Alofi | geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W | time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992, 2007 (2016)

Country name

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"

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); 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 12 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 15, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 5

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

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy (Fouo Ekepule) in free association with New Zealand

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

English common law

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 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20

National anthem

name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven) | lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA | note: adopted 1974

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 1,626 in 2015) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Drinking water source

urban: 98.4% of population | rural: 98.6% of population | total: 98.5% of population | urban: 1.6% of population | rural: 1.4% of population | total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 68

Infant mortality rate

total: NA | male: NA | female: NA

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA | male: NA | female: NA (2017 est.)

Major urban areas - population

ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)

Nationality

noun: Niuean(s) | adjective: Niuean

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

50% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 6

Physicians density

1.84 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,618 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 233

Population distribution

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Population growth rate

-0.03% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

urban population: 44% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: -0.49% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 228

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Alofi

Roadways

total: 234 km | paved: 210 km (2017) | country comparison to the world: 214