(self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Introduction ::Niue
Background:
Niue's remoteness, as well as
cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants
and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be
separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop
(from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,398 in 2009) with
substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography ::Niue
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates:
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 260 sq km
country comparison to the world: 212
land:
260 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
64 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops:
15.38%
other:
73.08% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons
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
People ::Niue
Population:
1,354 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 234
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years:
NA
65 years and over:
NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.032% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
-0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male:
NA
female:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male:
NA
female:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective:
Niuean
Ethnic groups:
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
Religions:
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)
Languages:
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population:
95%
male:
NA
female:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male:
12 years
female:
12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Niue
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
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
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Alofi
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:
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to make its laws
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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New
Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN
(since May 2000)
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 18 June 2008 (next to be held
in 2011)
election results:
Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
Legislative branch:
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 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
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
Economy ::Niue
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.01 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.01 million (2003)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,800 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.5%
industry:
26.9%
services:
49.5% (2003)
Labor force:
663 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 227
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:
12% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 133
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
