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 has trended downwards over recent decades (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to 1,618 in 2017) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 260 km²
Land: 260 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 213
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
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m

Natural resources: arable land, fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 19.1% (2011 est.)
Forest: 71.2% (2011 est.)
Other: 9.7% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones

Geography
Note: one of world's largest coral islands; the only major break in the surrounding coral reef occurs in the central western part of the coast

Population
Distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island: note: because of the island's limited economic and educational opportunities, Niueans have emigrated for decades - primarily to New Zealand, but also to Australia and other Pacific island states; Niue's population peaked in 1966 at 5,194, but by 2005 had fallen to 1,508; since then it has rebounded slightly; as of 2013, 23,883 people of Niuean ancestry lived in New Zealand - with more than 20% Niue-born; this means that there are about 15 times as many persons of Niuean living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world
Note: (July 2017 est.)
Rank: 233
Growth rate: -0.03% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 199
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: Niuean(s)
Adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups: Niuean 66.5%, part-Niuean 13.4%, non-Niuean 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% other Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)

Languages: Niuean (official) 46% (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.)

Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 67%, other Protestant 3% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 1%, Presbyterian 1%, and Methodist 1%), Mormon 10%, Roman Catholic 10%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 6%, none 2% (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.03% (2014 est.)
Rank: 199

Population distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Urbanization
Urban population: 45.5% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Sex ratio: NA (2018) (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate
Note: NA

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.6% of population
Rural: 1.4% of population
Total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure: 6.3% (2015)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

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

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 50% (2016)
Rank: 6

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Niue
Former: Savage Island
Etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as behold the coconut: note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

Government type: 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 state in free association with New Zealand)

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

Constitution
History: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)
Amendments: proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by the majority of votes in a referendum; passage of amendments to a number of sections, including Niue’s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended 1992, 2007 (2017)

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 Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Kirk YATES (since May 2018)
Head of government: Premier Sir Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the premier
Electionsappointments: the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 12 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)
Election results: Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 15, OLove JACOBSEN (independent) 5

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Assembly or Fono Ekepule (20 seats; 14 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 directly elected from the National Register or common roll by majority vote; members serve 3-year terms)
Elections: last held on 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal
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: note: Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program, which is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries

Political parties and leaders: Alliance of Independents or AINiue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, 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 symbols: yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow

National anthem
Name: Ko e Iki he Lagi (The Lord in Heaven)
Lyricsmusic: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA: note: adopted 1974

Economy overview: The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue.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. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half.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.

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

Real gdp growth rate: 6.2% (2003 est.)
Rank: 32

Real gdp per capita: $5,800 (2003 est.)
Rank: 168

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 23.5% (2003)
Industry: 26.9% (2003)
Services: 49.5% (2003)

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

Industries: handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate
Note: NA

Labor force: 663 (2001)
Rank: 230
By occupation note:

Unemployment rate: 12% (2001)
Rank: 159

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Budget
Revenues: 15.07 million (FY04/05)
Expenditures: 16.33 million (FY04/05)
Surplus or deficit: -12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)
Surplus or deficit rank: 215

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (2005)
Rank: 155

Exports: $201,400 (2004 est.)
Rank: 221
Commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Imports: $9.038 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 223
Commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Debt external: $418,000 (2002 est.)
Rank: 202

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 3 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 216
Consumption: 2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 215
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 179
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 181
Installed generating capacity: 2,300 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 214
Generation sources fossil fuels: 87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 65
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 158
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 191
Generation sources other renewable sources: 13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 68

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 184
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 177
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 178
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 179

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products production rank: 187
Products consumption: 50 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 215
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 189
Products imports: 54 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 211

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 181
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 185
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 164
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 170
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 179

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 7,252 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 213

Telephone system
General assessment: sole provider services for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas (2018)
Domestic: single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018)
International: country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands (2019)

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 (2019)

Internet
Country code: .nu
Users total: 1090
Users percent of population: 91.6% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 222

Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force (2019)

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 231
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 234 km (2017)
Paved: 210 km (2017)
Unpaved: 24 km
Rank: 200

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Alofi

Disputes international: none