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 2,100 in 2000) with substantial emigration to New Zealand.
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans Samoans and Tongans)
Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan English
Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 75% Latter-Day Saints 10% other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic Jehovah's Witnesses Seventh-Day Adventist)
Administrative divisions: none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government but there are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms
Executive branch Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000) Head of government: Premier Sani LAKATANI (since 1 April 1999) Cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers Elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 19 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2002) Election results: Sani LAKATANI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%
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
Economy overview: 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 migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry.
Labor force: 450 (1992 est.) By occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service small industry and the Niue Development Board