Niue

Broadcast media

1 government-owned television 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

.nu

Internet hosts

397,270 (2010) country comparison to the world: 52

Internet users

1,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 213

Telephone system

domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 227

Telephones - mobile cellular

600 (2004) country comparison to the world: 219

Agriculture - products

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Debt - external

$418,000 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

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.

Electricity - consumption

2.79 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

3 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2010), 1.6002 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)

Exports

$201,400 (2004) country comparison to the world: 220

Exports - commodities

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.01 million (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

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

GDP - real growth rate

6.2% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

handicrafts, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 116

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - consumption

NA bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Oil - imports

31 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12% (2001) country comparison to the world: 128

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

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Coastline

64 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Geographic coordinates

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Geography - note

one of world's largest coral islands

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons

Natural resources

fish, arable land

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

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

Capital

name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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 John BRYAN (since May 2000) head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 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 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

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Independence

19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Legal system

English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to make its laws

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 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents

National anthem

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

National holiday

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Age structure

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

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA male: NA female: NA

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean

Net migration rate

NA

Population

1,354 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 235

Population growth rate

-0.032% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

urban population: 39% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 229

Airports - with paved runways

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

Ports and terminals

Alofi

Roadways

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