Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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 1,229 in 2013) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
total: 260 sq km
country comparison to the world: 213
land: 260 sq km
water: 0 sq km
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m
arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 11.54%
other: 84.62% (2011)
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
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
English (official), Niuean (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan)
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)
1,229 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 237
-0.03% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: -1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
14.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 6
6 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 15 years (2005)
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
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
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 (2007)
18 years of age; universal
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 Mark BLUMSKY (since September 2011)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 16 May 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Toke TALAGI reelected premier in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 11, Togia SIONEHOLO - 8
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 on 7 May 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
highest 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
Alliance of Independents or AI
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, 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
name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)
lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
note: adopted 1974
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.)
country comparison to the world: 228
6.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$5,800 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
handicrafts, food processing
663 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 231
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: 125
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: 210
4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 125
$201,400 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 219
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
$9.038 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 222
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
$418,000 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
3 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
2.79 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
1,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 169
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
22.57 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 175
3,050 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
international: country code - 683 (2001)
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)
79,508 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 83
1,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 214
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 227
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 120 km
country comparison to the world: 213
paved: 120 km (2011)
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
