Niue

self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand

Niue as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 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 sq km

LocationOceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Populationas each edition published it

1,837 people July 1995 est. · 2,019 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-3.66% 1995 est. · -3.66% in 1993

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 1993 est. · $1,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -0.3% in 2002

Geography

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

14 fields

Area

260sq km

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

Coastline

64km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Land use

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

Environment

current issues:: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which naturally are not very abundant
natural hazards:: typhoons
international agreements:: signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

People

14 fields

Population

1,837

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: -3.66% (1995 est.)

Labor force

1,000

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Nationality

noun:: Niuean(s)
adjective:: Niuean

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)

Religions

Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Languages

Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English

Government

Self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative Kurt MEYER (since NA); Premier Frank F. LUI (since 12 March 1993

19 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Niue

Digraph

Type

self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs;
New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

Capital

Alofi

Administrative divisions

none

Independence

19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)

National holiday

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

Constitution

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system

English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative Kurt MEYER (since NA)
head of government:: Premier Frank F. LUI (since 12 March 1993; Acting Premier since December 1992)
cabinet:: Cabinet; consists of the premier and three other ministers

Legislative branch

unicameral

Legislative Assembly

elections last held 6 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - percent of vote NA;
seats - (20 total, 6 elected)

Judicial branch

Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court

Political parties and leaders

Niue Peoples Party (NPP), Young VIVIAN

Member of

ESCAP (associate), INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US

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

US 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

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,200

(1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$5.5 millionExpenditures

$6.3 million (1985 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 1,500 kW

Electricity production

2.7 millionElectricity consumption per capita

1,490 (1992)

Overview

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 public employees. 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.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.4 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)

commodities:: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
partners:: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia

Imports

$4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)

commodities:: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
partners:: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US