Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Niue as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 an estimated 1,444 in 2008), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
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
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, Law of the Sea
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
20 fieldsEthnic groups(2001 census)
Religions(2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total:
- 12 years
- male:
- 12 years
- female:
- 12 years (2005)
Government
Self-governing parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
19 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Niue
note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee
- 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
Capital
- name:
- Alofi
- geographic coordinates:
- 19 01 S, 169 55 W
- time difference:
- UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006);
- the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
- head of government:
- Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
- 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 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
- election results:
- Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
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 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
International organization participation
ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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 star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star 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.
38 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2003)
Electricity
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 emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses.
Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
Labor force - by occupation
note: 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, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Imports - commodities
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
- international:
- country code - 683 (2001)
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
No regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Niue.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/niue/2008.