ARCHIVE // NU // 2017

Niue

2017 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 government-owned TV station with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.nu
Internet users [time series]
total: 1,090 | percent of population: 91.6% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island | international: country code - 683 (2015)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Budget [time series]
revenues: $15.07 million | expenditures: $16.33 million (FY04/05)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-12.6% of GDP (FY04/05) | country comparison to the world: 205
Debt - external [time series]
$418,000 (2002 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. | 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. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. | 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 financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses.
Exchange rates [time series]
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - | 1.4341 (2016) | 1.4279 (2015) | 1.4279 (2014 est.) | 1.2039 (2013 est.) | 1.23 (2012 est.)
Exports [time series]
$201,400 (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222
Exports - commodities [time series]
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
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: 228
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [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: 164
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
6.2% (2003 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$9.038 million (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 222
Imports - commodities [time series]
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
handicrafts, food processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4% (2005) | country comparison to the world: 163
Labor force [time series]
663 (2001) | country comparison to the world: 231
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
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
12% (2001) | country comparison to the world: 151
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
3,520 Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption [time series]
2.79 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
1,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215
Electricity - production [time series]
3 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 177
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
60 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 215
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
64.25 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 260 sq km | land: 260 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 213
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 [time series]
mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 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; the only major break in the surrounding coral reef occurs in the central western part of the coast
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 19.1% | arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8% | forest: 71.2% | other: 9.7% (2011 est.)
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]
tropical cyclones
Natural resources [time series]
fish, arable land
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
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]
several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992, 2007 (2016)
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 | etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"
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 Governor General Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Ross ARDEN (since February 2014) | head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) | cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the premier | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 12 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 15, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 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; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand
Government type [time series]
self-governing parliamentary democracy (Fouo Ekepule) in free association with New Zealand
Independence [time series]
19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal | judge selection and term of office: Niue chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the premier; other judges appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the chief justice and the minister of justice; judges serve until age 68 | subordinate courts: High Court | note: Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program, which is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries
Legal system [time series]
English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Assembly or Fono Ekepule (20 seats; 14 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 directly elected from the National Register or "common roll" by majority vote; members serve 3-year terms) | elections: last held on 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven) | lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA | note: adopted 1974
National holiday [time series]
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
National symbol(s) [time series]
yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow
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 adjacent Cook Islands, has caused it to be separately administered by New Zealand. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to 1,626 in 2015) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Military and Security
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 and Society
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 98.4% of population | rural: 98.6% of population | total: 98.5% of population | urban: 1.6% of population | rural: 1.4% of population | total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Niuen 66.5%, part-Niuen 13.4%, non-Niuen 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
7.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 68
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA | male: NA | female: NA
Languages [time series]
Niuean (official) 46% (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA | male: NA | female: NA (2017 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Niuean(s) | adjective: Niuean
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
50% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 6
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
1.84 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Population [time series]
1,618 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 233
Population distribution [time series]
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.03% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202
Religions [time series]
Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 67%, other Protestant 3% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 1%, Presbyterian 1%, and Methodist 1%), Mormon 10%, Roman Catholic 10%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 6%, none 2% (2011 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 44% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: -0.49% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 228
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Alofi
Roadways [time series]
total: 234 km | paved: 210 km (2017) | country comparison to the world: 214