Background: Niue's remoteness as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the adjacent Cook Islands has caused it to be separately administered by New Zealand. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1229 in 2013) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S 169 52 W

Area
Rank: 213
Land: 260 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast central plateau

Elevation
Extremes highest point: unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources: fish arable land

Land use
Permanent crops: 11.54%
Other: 84.62% (2011)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: typhoons

Geography
Note: one of world's largest coral islands

Population: 1229 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 237
Growth rate: -0.03% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 201
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
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 growth rate: -0.03% (2013 est.)
Rank: 201

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: -1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Sex ratio: NA

Infant mortality rate
Male: NA
Female: NA

Life expectancy at birth
Male: NA
Female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 6 physicians/1000 population (2008)

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: 95%
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 12 years
Female: 15 years (2005)

Country name
Conventional short form: Niue
Former: Savage Island

Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital
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: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992 2007 (2007)

Legal system: English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
Cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
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: note - Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program; the program is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries
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

Political parties and leaders:

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)
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
Lyrics and music: unknown/unknown prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $10.01 million (2003 est.)
Rank: 228

Real gdp growth rate: 6.2% (2003 est.)
Rank: 43

Real gdp per capita: $5,800 (2003 est.)
Rank: 151

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 26.9%
Services: 49.5% (2003)

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%

Labor force: 663 (2001)
Rank: 231

Unemployment rate: 12% (2001)
Rank: 125

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Expenditures: $16.33 million (FY04/05)
Surplus or deficit: -12.6% of GDP (FY04/05)
Surplus or deficit rank: 210

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (2005)
Rank: 125

Exports: $201,400 (2004)
Rank: 219
Commodities: canned coconut cream copra honey vanilla passion fruit products pawpaws root crops limes footballs stamps handicrafts

Imports: $9.038 million (2004)
Rank: 222
Commodities: food live animals manufactured goods machinery fuels lubricants chemicals drugs

Debt external: $418,000 (2002 est.)
Rank: 201

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 3 million kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 216
Consumption: 2.79 million kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 216
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 109
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 111
Installed generating capacity: 1000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 210
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 25
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 147
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 186
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 208

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 198
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 161
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 101
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 169

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 211
Products consumption: NA bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 200
Products imports: 22.57 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 209

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 172
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 177
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 153
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 103
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 175

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 3,050 Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 211

Telephone system
International: country code - 683 (2001)

Broadcast media: 1 government-owned TV 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
Hosts: 79,508 (2012)
Hosts rank: 83
Users: 1100 (2009)
Users rank: 214

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 227
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2012)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Rank: 213
Paved: 120 km (2011)

Ports and terminals: Alofi

Disputes international: none