Niue

Niue

Introduction

Background

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 1,311 in 2011) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography

Location

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 260 sq km
country comparison to the world: 212 land:260 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

64 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

tropical

modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Land use

arable land: 11.54%
permanent crops:15.38%
other:73.08% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

typhoons

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, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography – note

one of world’s largest coral islands

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Niuean(s)
adjective:Niuean

Ethnic groups

Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)

Languages

English (official), Niuean (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan)

Religions

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)

Population

1,311 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235

Age structure

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years:NA
65 years and over:NA (2009 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.032% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

Net migration rate

NA

Urbanization

urban population: 38% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:-1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA
male:NA
female:NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA
male:NA
female:NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Health expenditures

13.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4

Physicians density

4 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
country comparison to the world: 12

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: NA
total population:95%
male:NA
female:NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:12 years
female:16 years (2005)

Government

Country name

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

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

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy

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

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)

Constitution

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system

English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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 Mark BLUMSKY (since September 2011)
head of government:Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet:Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary

premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term

election last held on 16 May 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:Toke TALAGI reelected premier in Legislative Assembly vote

Toke TALAGI – 11, Togia SIONEHOLO – 8

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 on 7 May 2011 (next to be held in 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – 20 independents

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of New Zealand

High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Independents or AI

Niue People’s Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, 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

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

National anthem

name: “Ko e Iki he Lagi” (The Lord in Heaven)
lyrics/music:unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
note:adopted 1974

Economy

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 financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in FY08/09 was US$5.7 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.01 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP – real growth rate

6.2% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$5,800 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

663 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 227

Labor force – by occupation

note: most work on family plantations

paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate

12% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 126

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures:$16.33 million (FY04/05)

Taxes and other revenues

150.5% of GDP (FY04/05)
country comparison to the world: 1

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-12.6 (FY04/05)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 134

Agriculture – products

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries

handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Electricity – consumption

2.79 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Oil – consumption

40 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Oil – imports

33 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Exports

$201,400 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 219

Exports – commodities

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Imports

$9.038 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 221

Imports – commodities

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

Debt – external

$418,000 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.3874 (2010)
1.6002 (2009)
1.4151 (2008)
1.3811 (2007)
1.5408 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:227

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 120 km
country comparison to the world: 212 paved:120 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Alofi

Military

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces

Police Force

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none