ARCHIVE // NU // 2009

Niue

2009 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.nu
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
396,370 (2009) country comparison to the world: 50
Internet users [time series]
1,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 214
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
1,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 227
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
600 (2004) country comparison to the world: 220
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Budget [time series]
revenues: $15.07 million expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405)
Debt - external [time series]
$418,000 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
2.79 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 211
Exchange rates [time series]
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Exports [time series]
$201,400 (2004) country comparison to the world: 220
Exports - commodities [time series]
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$10.01 million (2003)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$10.01 million (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 227
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 23.5% industry: 26.9% services: 49.5% (2003)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$5,800 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
6.2% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$9.038 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 217
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 63
Labor force [time series]
663 (2001) country comparison to the world: 219
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Oil - consumption [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Oil - imports [time series]
30.66 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
12% (2001) country comparison to the world: 136
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 260 sq km country comparison to the world: 212 land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Coastline [time series]
64 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic coordinates [time series]
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Geography - note [time series]
one of world's largest coral islands
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 11.54% permanent crops: 15.38% other: 73.08% (2005)
Location [time series]
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
typhoons
Natural resources [time series]
fish, arable land
Terrain [time series]
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
Capital [time series]
name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: Savage Island
Dependency status [time series]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Executive branch [time series]
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 3 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
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Independence [time series]
on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Legal system [time series]
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to make its laws
Legislative branch [time series]
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
National holiday [time series]
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages [time series]
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy [time series]
definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA female: NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Net migration rate [time series]
NA (2009 est.)
Population [time series]
1,398 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 234
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.032% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Religions [time series]
Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA (2008 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 39% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 218
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only
Roadways [time series]
total: 120 km country comparison to the world: 211 paved: 120 km (2008)