Niue

Location

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

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Alofi	624	Capital

Size

• 100 square miles
• 260 square kilometers
• 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

History

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.

Climate

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

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 (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 61.7%, Church of Jesus Christ 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Jehovah's Witness 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.2%, none 8.9% (2017 est.)

Government

parliamentary democracy

• 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 
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: English common law
• 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 ministerelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year termmost recent election date: 8 May 2023election results: Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4expected date of next election: 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 68subordinate courts: High Courtnote: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 20electoral system: plurality/majorityscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 3 yearsmost recent election date: 29 April 2023parties elected and seats per party: independents (20)percentage of women in chamber: 15%expected date of next election: April 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $113.687 million (2022 est.)expenditures: $143.391 million (2022 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: arable land, fish
• Industries: handicrafts, food processing
• Agricultural Products: coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 18.5% (2022 est.)arable land: 3.8% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 10.8% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 3.8% (2022 est.)forest: 72.7% (2022 est.)other: 8.9% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: abrasive powder, coin (2023)note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
• Export Partners: USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports