Niue

self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand

Niue as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 63 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAlofi

Area260 km2

Populationas each edition published it

2,019 people July 1990 · 1,815 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition -3.66% in 1993

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $1,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -0.3% in 2002

Geography

12 fields

Total area

260km2

land area: 260 km2Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

64km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Land use

61% arable land;
4% permanent crops;
4% meadows and pastures;
19% forest and woodland;
12% other

Note

one of world's largest coral islands; located about 460 km east of Tonga

People

14 fields

Population

2,019

(July 1990), growth rate NA (1990)

Religion

Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church)--a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society 75%Mormon 10%Roman Catholic 5%Jehovah's Witnesses; Seventh-Day Adventist

Labor force

1,000

(1981 est.); most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian, with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans

Language

Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English

Literacy

NA%, but education compulsory between 5 and 14 years of age

Government

Self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand

16 fields

Type

self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Judicial branch

Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974);
Head of Government--Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since NA October 1974)

Political parties and leaders

Niue People's Action Party, leader NA Legislative Assembly--last held on 28 March 1987 (next to be held NA 1990);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(20 total, 6 elected) independents 5, Niue People's Action Party 1

Diplomatic representation

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

Flag

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 one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy

The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

9.6%

(1984)

Budget

Revenues

$5.5 millionExpenditures

$6.3 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (FY85 est.)

The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand--the grants are used to pay wages to the 80% or more of the work force employed in public service. 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 migration of Niueans to New Zealand.

GNP

$2.1 million, per capita $1,000; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$175,274 (f.o.b., 1985);
commodities--canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts;
partners--NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports

$3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985);
commodities--food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs;
partners--NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US