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

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Oceania

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

64 km

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

fish, arable land

arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8%

NA

typhoons

increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

one of world's largest coral islands

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.)

1,190 (July 2014 est.)

-0.03% (2014 est.)

ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)

NA

NA

7.1% of GDP (2013)

3 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

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.)

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.)

NA

NA

NA

42.5% (2014)

NA

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

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)

English common law

18 years of age; universal

note - Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program; the program 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

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 allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

$10.01 million (2003 est.)

$10.01 million (2003)

6.2% (2003 est.)

$5,800 (2003 est.)

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

handicrafts, food processing

NA%

663 (2001)

12% (2001)

NA%

-12.6% of GDP (FY04/05)

1 April - 31 March

4% (2005)

$201,400 (2004)

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

$9.038 million (2004)

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

$418,000 (2002 est.)

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.206 (2014)

1.2187 (2013)

1.23 (2012)

1.263 (2011)

1.3874 (2010)

3 million kWh (2011 est.)

2.79 million kWh (2011 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

1,000 kW (2011 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

20 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

22.57 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

3,520 Mt (2012 est.)

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)

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

1 (1997)

.nu

1 (2013)

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

none