Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracyIndependence on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing
Niue as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of | Tonga
18 fieldsLand useshare of 260 sq km
Elevation extremes
- lowest point:
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Environment--current issues
traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant
Environment--international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
- signed, but not ratified:
- Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
People
14 fieldsReligions
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%--a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Government
Self-governing parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March 1993)
19 fieldsLegislative Assembly, 20 seats, elected 23 February 1996one dot, one seat
Dependency status
- self-governing in free association with New Zealand;
- Niue fully responsible for internal affairs;
- New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs
Administrative divisions
none; note--there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms
Independence
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Warren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)
- head of government:
- Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March 1993)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
- elections:
- the monarch is hereditary;
- premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term;
- election last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
- election results:
- Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote--NA
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 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NPP 9, independents 11
International organization participation
ESCAP (associate), Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
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 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 and | remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export | products.
31 fieldsElectricity
Economy--overview
The economy is heavily dependent on aid and remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which 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 migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
Labor force--by occupation
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Agriculture--products
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports--commodities
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Imports--commodities
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
- international:
- NA
Transportation
6 fieldsNetworkskm
Military
Police Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Niue.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/niue/1999.