Niue
Introduction
Background
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
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total
260 sq km
land
260 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
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
highest point
unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m
lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
arable land, fish
Land use
agricultural land
18.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
forest
72.6% (2023 est.)
other
9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
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
People and Society
Population
total
1,815 (2024 est.)
male
877 (2024 est.)
female
938 (2024 est.)
Nationality
noun
Niuean(s)
adjective
Niuean
Ethnic groups
Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)
Languages
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
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
64.6 (2024)
youth dependency ratio
38.2 (2024)
elderly dependency ratio
26.4 (2024)
potential support ratio
3.8 (2024)
Population growth rate
-0.03% (2021 est.)
Population distribution
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
Urbanization
urban population
48.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)
Life expectancy at birth
male
71.8 years (2016)
female
75.7 years (2016 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.8% of GDP (2020)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
50% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total
8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer
4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure
5.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy
total population
99.5% (2022 est.)
male
100% (2022 est.)
female
100% (2022 est.)
Environment
Environmental issues
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture
International environmental agreements
party to
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
none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Land use
agricultural land
18.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
forest
72.6% (2023 est.)
other
9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
48.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Government
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 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
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Dependency status
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
Alofi
geographic coordinates
19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference
UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology
a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered second-order
Legal system
English common law
Constitution
history
several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)
amendment process
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
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
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
Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)
cabinet
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term
most recent election date
8 May 2023
election results
Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4
expected date of next election
2026
Legislative branch
legislature name
Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)
legislative structure
unicameral
number of seats
20
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
3 years
most recent election date
29 April 2023
parties elected and seats per party
independents (20)
percentage of women in chamber
15%
expected date of next election
April 2026
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)
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
none
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
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)
Flag
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
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)
yellow five-pointed star
National color(s)
yellow
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
lyrics/music
unknown
history
in use since 1745
Economy
Economic overview
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
$18.7 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$19.9 million (2020 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$20.9 million (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,100 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2020
$11,800 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2019
$12,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products
coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)
Industries
handicrafts, food processing
Exports - partners
USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities
abrasive powder, coin (2023)
Imports - partners
NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
Exchange rates
Currency
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
1.542 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity
installed generating capacity
3,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption
3 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
400,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
61 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
1,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
52 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media
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
.nu
Internet users
percent of population
80% (2024 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
70 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30
Ports
total ports
1 (2024)
large
0
medium
0
small
0
very small
1
ports with oil terminals
0
key ports
Alofi
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department
Military - note
under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government