Niue

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Niue as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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

Position19 02 S, 169 52 W

Area260 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

2,156 people July 2004 est. · 2,019 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.01% 2004 est. · -3.66% in 1993

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,600 2000 est. · $1,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-0.3% 2000 est. · -0.3% in 2002

Introduction

1 field

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 about 2,100 in 2004), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 260 sq km

arable land 15.38%permanent crops 11.54%other 73.08% (2001)

Area

260sq km

land: 260 sq kmwater: 0 sq km1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

64km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references

Oceania

Climate

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

one of world's largest coral islands

People

18 fields

Population

2,156

(July 2004 est.)growth rate: 0.01% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Literacy

95%

definition: NAmale: NAfemale: NA

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA (2004 est.)

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

NA (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:: NA
male:: NA
female:: NA (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: NA years
male:: NA years
female:: NA years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Niuean(s)
adjective:: Niuean

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English

Government

Self-governing parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)

19 fields

Legislative Assembly, 20 seats, elected 21 March 2002one dot, one seat

NPP 9independents 11

Country name

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

Alofi

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 own laws

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
head of government:: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
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 1 May 2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)
election results:: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, Hunukitama HUNUKI (AI) 30%

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 21 March 2002 (next to be held NA March 2005)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11;
note - all 20 seats were reelected

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders

Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACP, FAO, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, 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 suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.

35 fields

Real growth rate

-0.3%

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: NA

Inflation, consumer prices

(1995)

Debt - external

$418,000

(2002 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

3 million (2001)Electricity consumption

2.79 million (2001)

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 migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was about $2.6 million.