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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

1 state-owned TV station, with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 state-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.nu

Internet users [time series]

percent of population: 80% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2021 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products [time series]

coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Economic overview [time series]

upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; environmentally fragile; massive emigration; post-pandemic tourism rebound; postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming; most recent Asian Development Bank member

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.652 (2024 est.) 1.628 (2023 est.) 1.577 (2022 est.) 1.414 (2021 est.) 1.542 (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

abrasive powder, coin (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Exports - partners [time series]

USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners [time series]

NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industries [time series]

handicrafts, food processing

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$18.7 million (2021 est.) $19.9 million (2020 est.) $20.9 million (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$11,100 (2021 est.) $11,800 (2020 est.) $12,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2009 dollars

Energy

Electricity [time series]

installed generating capacity: 3,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 3 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 400,000 kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources [time series]

fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum [time series]

refined petroleum consumption: 61 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]

9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Environmental issues [time series]

increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture

International environmental agreements [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 18.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.) forest: 72.6% (2023 est.) other: 9% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions [time series]

6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 48.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 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, D.C.

Climate [time series]

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Coastline [time series]

64 km

Elevation [time series]

highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

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 (2022)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 18.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.) forest: 72.6% (2023 est.) other: 9% (2023 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]

no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered 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) etymology: a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974) amendment process: proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority 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

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 translates as "behold the coconut;" the former name, Savage Island, was the result of an acrimonious meeting in 1774 between English explorer Captain James COOK and local people 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; under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides necessary economic and administrative assistance to Niue, as well as assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) note: on 25 September 2023, the US officially established diplomatic relations with Niue

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term most recent election date: 8 May 2023 election results: Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4 expected date of next election: 2026

Flag [time series]

description: yellow with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars, with a large star on a blue disk in the center and smaller stars on each arm of the red cross meaning: the large star represents Niue, and the smaller stars symbolize links with New Zealand; yellow stands for sunshine, as well as 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 court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges) 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: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

legislature name: Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 20 electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 3 years most recent election date: 29 April 2023 parties elected and seats per party: independents (20) percentage of women in chamber: 15% expected date of next election: April 2026

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven) lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA history: adopted 1974 title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: in use since 1745

National color(s) [time series]

yellow

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

Political parties [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900, and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. Samoan and Tongan customs heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide elected kingship system in the early 1700s. In 1774, British explorer James COOK landed on the island and named it Savage Island because of the Niueans' hostility. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. Great Britain established a protectorate over Niue in 1900. The following year, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized Niue as a sovereign and independent state.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department

People and Society

Alcohol consumption per capita [time series]

total: 8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 64.6 (2024) youth dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024) elderly dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024) potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024)

Drinking water source [time series]

total: 97% of population (2022 est.) total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure [time series]

5.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.) note: data represent the resident population

Health expenditure [time series]

7.8% of GDP (2020) 6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Languages [time series]

Niuean 46% (official, 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]

male: 71.8 years (2016) female: 75.7 years (2016 est.)

Literacy [time series]

total population: 99.5% (2022 est.) male: 100% (2022 est.) female: 100% (2022 est.)

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]

total: 1,815 (2024 est.) male: 877 (2024 est.) female: 938 (2024 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.03% (2021 est.)

Religions [time series]

Ekalesia Niue 61.7%, Latter Day Saints 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, other 8.2%, not stated 5.1%, none 3.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 48.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2025)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 70 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30

Ports [time series]

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Alofi