Niue

noun:

Niuean(s)

adjective:

Niuean

total dependency ratio:

64.6 (2024)

youth dependency ratio:

38.2 (2024)

elderly dependency ratio:

26.4 (2024)

potential support ratio:

3.8 (2024)

male:

71.8 years (2016)

female:

75.7 years (2016 est.)

total:

8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

urban population:

48.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Niue

former:

Savage Island

etymology:

the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word translates as "behold the coconut;" the former name, Savage Island, was the result of an acrimonious meeting in 1774 between English explorer Captain James COOK and local people

note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

• self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
• Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs;
• under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides necessary economic and administrative assistance to Niue, as well as assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested

name:

Alofi

geographic coordinates:

19 01 S, 169 55 W

time difference:

UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century

history:

several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)

amendment process:

• proposed by the Assembly;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority 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

chief of state:

• King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022);
• represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021);
• the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024)

head of government:

Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)

cabinet:

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister

election/appointment process:

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term

most recent election date:

8 May 2023

election results:

Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4

expected date of next election:

2026

legislature name:

Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

20

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

3 years

most recent election date:

29 April 2023

parties elected and seats per party:

independents (20)

percentage of women in chamber:

15%

expected date of next election:

April 2026

highest court(s):

Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)

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: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal

description:

• yellow with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant;
• the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars, with a large star on a blue disk in the center and smaller stars on each arm of the red cross

meaning:

• the large star represents Niue, and the smaller stars symbolize links with New Zealand;
• yellow stands for sunshine, as well as the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand

title:

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

lyrics/music:

unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

history:

adopted 1974

title:

"God Save the King"

lyrics/music:

unknown

history:

in use since 1745

• upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy;
• environmentally fragile;
• massive emigration;
• post-pandemic tourism rebound;
• postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming;
• most recent Asian Development Bank member

total ports:

1 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

0

very small:

1

ports with oil terminals:

0

key ports:

Alofi