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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 (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.nu

Internet users [time series]

total: 1,090 | percent of population: 91.6% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: sole provider services for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas (2018) | domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018) | international: country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands (2019)

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 (FY04/05) | expenditures: 16.33 million (FY04/05)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)

Debt - external [time series]

$418,000 (2002 est.)

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 - | 1.416 (2017 est.) | 1.4279 (2016 est.) | 1.4279 (2015) | 1.4279 (2014 est.) | 1.2039 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$201,400 (2004 est.)

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) (2003)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$10.01 million (2003 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 23.5% (2003) | industry: 26.9% (2003) | services: 49.5% (2003)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$5,800 (2003 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6.2% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$9.038 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

handicrafts, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2005)

Labor force [time series]

663 (2001)

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]

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (2001)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

7,252 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

2,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

3 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

50 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

54 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 260 sq km | 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 [time series]

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% (2011 est.) | arable land: 3.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 11.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 3.8% (2011 est.) | forest: 71.2% (2011 est.) | 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]

arable land, fish

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]

history: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974) | amendments: proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by the majority of votes in a referendum; passage of amendments to a number of sections, including Niue’s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended 1992, 2007 (2017)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Niue | former: Savage Island | etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut" | note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

Dependency status [time series]

self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is 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 Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Kirk YATES (since May 2018) | head of government: Premier Sir 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]

parliamentary democracy

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 courts: 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; composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%

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]

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 has trended downwards over recent decades (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to 1,618 in 2017) 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 [time series]

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force (2019)

People and Society

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

6.3% (2015)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

Niuean 66.5%, part-Niuean 13.4%, non-Niuean 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% other Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: NA (2018) | 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 (2017 est.) | male: NA | female: NA

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Niuean(s) | adjective: Niuean

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

50% (2016)

Population [time series]

1,618 (July 2017 est.) | note: because of the island's limited economic and educational opportunities, Niueans have emigrated for decades - primarily to New Zealand, but also to Australia and other Pacific island states; Niue's population peaked in 1966 at 5,194, but by 2005 had fallen to 1,508; since then it has rebounded slightly; as of 2013, 23,883 people of Niuean ancestry lived in New Zealand - with more than 20% Niue-born; this means that there are about 15 times as many persons of Niuean living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world

Population distribution [time series]

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.03% (2014 est.)

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]

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 45.5% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Alofi

Roadways [time series]

total: 234 km (2017) | paved: 210 km (2017) | unpaved: 24 km