Niue

Code: NE | Region: Australia Oceania

Introduction

Background

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Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900, and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. Samoan and Tongan customs heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide elected kingship system in the early 1700s. In 1774, British explorer James COOK landed on the island and named it Savage Island because of the Niueans' hostility. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. Great Britain established a protectorate over Niue in 1900. The following year, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue’s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized Niue as a sovereign and independent state.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references

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Oceania

Area

total

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260 sq km

land

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260 sq km

water

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0 sq km

Area - comparative

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1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total

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0 km

Coastline

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64 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

Climate

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tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain

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steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation

highest point

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unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m

lowest point

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Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

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arable land, fish

Land use

agricultural land

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18.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)

forest

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72.6% (2023 est.)

other

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9% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

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population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Natural hazards

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tropical cyclones

Geography - note

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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

People and Society

Population

total

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1,815 (2024 est.)

male

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877 (2024 est.)

female

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938 (2024 est.)

Nationality

noun

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Niuean(s)

adjective

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Niuean

Ethnic groups

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Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)

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note: data represent the resident population

Languages

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Niuean 46% (official, 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

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Ekalesia Niue 61.7%, Latter Day Saints 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, other 8.2%, not stated 5.1%, none 3.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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64.6 (2024)

youth dependency ratio

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38.2 (2024)

elderly dependency ratio

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26.4 (2024)

potential support ratio

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3.8 (2024)

Population growth rate

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-0.03% (2021 est.)

Population distribution

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population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island

Urbanization

urban population

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48.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)

Life expectancy at birth

male

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71.8 years (2016)

female

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75.7 years (2016 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

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total: 97% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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7.8% of GDP (2020)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

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total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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50% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Education expenditure

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5.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population

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99.5% (2022 est.)

male

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100% (2022 est.)

female

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100% (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture

International environmental agreements

party to

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Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Land use

agricultural land

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18.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)

forest

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72.6% (2023 est.)

other

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9% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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48.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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none

conventional short form

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Niue

former

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Savage Island

etymology

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the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word translates as "behold the coconut;" the former name, Savage Island, was the result of an acrimonious meeting in 1774 between English explorer Captain James COOK and local people

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note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

Government type

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parliamentary democracy

Dependency status

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self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides necessary economic and administrative assistance to Niue, as well as assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested

Capital

name

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Alofi

geographic coordinates

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19 01 S, 169 55 W

time difference

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UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century

Administrative divisions

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no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered second-order

Legal system

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English common law

Constitution

history

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several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)

amendment process

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proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority 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 

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024)

head of government

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Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)

cabinet

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Cabinet chosen by the prime minister

election/appointment process

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the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term

most recent election date

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8 May 2023

election results

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Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4

expected date of next election

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2026

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)

legislative structure

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unicameral

number of seats

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electoral system

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plurality/majority

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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3 years

most recent election date

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29 April 2023

parties elected and seats per party

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independents (20)

percentage of women in chamber

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15%

expected date of next election

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April 2026

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

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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

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High Court

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note: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal

Political parties

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none

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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

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note: on 25 September 2023, the US officially established diplomatic relations with Niue

International organization participation

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

Independence

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

National holiday

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

Flag

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description: yellow with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars, with a large star on a blue disk in the center and smaller stars on each arm of the red cross meaning: the large star represents Niue, and the smaller stars symbolize links with New Zealand; yellow stands for sunshine, as well as the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand

National symbol(s)

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yellow five-pointed star

National color(s)

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yellow

National anthem(s)

title

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"God Save the King"

lyrics/music

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unknown

history

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in use since 1745

Economy

Economic overview

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upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; environmentally fragile; massive emigration; post-pandemic tourism rebound; postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming; most recent Asian Development Bank member

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

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$18.7 million (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

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$19.9 million (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

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$20.9 million (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2021

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$11,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

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$11,800 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

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$12,400 (2019 est.)

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note: data are in 2009 dollars

Agricultural products

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coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)

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note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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handicrafts, food processing

Exports - partners

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USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023)

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note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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abrasive powder, coin (2023)

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note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Imports - partners

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NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023)

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note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)

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note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

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New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

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1.652 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

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1.628 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

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1.577 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

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1.414 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

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1.542 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity

installed generating capacity

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3,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

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3 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

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400,000 kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

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100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

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61 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

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1,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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52 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

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1 state-owned TV station, with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 state-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2019)

Internet country code

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.nu

Internet users

percent of population

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80% (2024 est.)

Transportation

Airports

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1 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

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70 (2023)

by type

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bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30

Ports

total ports

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1 (2024)

large

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medium

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small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Alofi

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department

Military - note

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under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government