Statistical information Niue 1989

Niue in the World
top of pageBackground: 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) with substantial emigration to New Zealand.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claimsExtended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
ElevationNatural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: 61% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 19% forest and woodland; 12% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
top of pagePopulation: 2,112 (July 1989), growth rate - 6.6% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Niuean(s; adjective - Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian, with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans
Languages: Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Religions: 75% Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) - a Christian Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, 10% Mormon, 5% Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: NA births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to typhoons
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: NA%, but education compulsory between 5 and 14 years of age
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6 February (1840)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution
Legal system: English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult
Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974) Head of Government - Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since early 1950s)
Legislative branch: executive consists of a Cabinet of four members - the premier (elected by the Assembly) and three ministers (chosen by the premier from among Assembly members; Legislative Assembly consists of 20 members (14 village representatives and six elected on a common roll; if requested by the Assembly, New Zealand will also legislate for the island
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ESCAP (associate member), SPF
Diplomatic representationIn 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 one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to the 80% or more of the work force employed in public service. 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: copra, coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops - taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Industries: tourist, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.), most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY85 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $87,800 (f.o.b., 1985)
Commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Partners: NZ, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $1.9 million (c.i.f., 1985)
Commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Partners: NZ, Fiji, Japan, Western Samoa, Australia, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5985 (January 1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,320 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaNiue - Communication 1989
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsNiue - Transportation 1989
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 with permanent-surface runways of 1,650 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsNiue - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs