{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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. There was continued contact with both Samoa and Tonga, and customs from those islands heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide kingship system in the early 1700s. These kings, or patu-iki, were elected by Niueans. In 1774, British explorer James COOK abandoned attempts to land on the island after several unsuccessful tries, and he named it Savage Island because of the warlike appearance of the Niueans. 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 between Niueans and helped establish the first parliament in 1849.</p> <p>In 1889, King FATAAIKI and other chiefs asked the UK for protectorate status, a request that was repeated in 1895. The UK finally agreed in 1900 and King TOGIA-PULU-TOAKI formally ceded Niue that year. In 1901, 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.</p> <p>Economic opportunities in Niue are sparse. The population has trended downwards over recent decades, with substantial emigration to New Zealand. In 2004, a cyclone destroyed much of the southern part of the capital, Alofi, and left about 15% of the population homeless. Many chose not to rebuild and instead moved to New Zealand (2,400 km to the southwest), where approximately 90% of all ethnic Niueans live.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "19 02 S, 169 52 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Oceania"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "260 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "260 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "1.5 times the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "64 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; modified by southeast trade winds"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "arable land, fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "19.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "71.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "9.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "tropical cyclones"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "2,000 (July 2021 est.)<br><br><strong>note:</strong> 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 ancestry living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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 ancestry living in New Zealand as in Niue, possibly the most eccentric population distribution in the world"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Niuean(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Niuean"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)<br><br><strong>note:</strong> data represent the resident population",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data represent the resident population"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "Ekalesia Niue (Congregational Christian Church of Niue - a Protestant church founded by missionaries from the London Missionary Society) 61.7%, Mormon 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Jehovah's Witness 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.2%, none 8.9% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.03% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "46.9% of total population (2021)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "NA (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 98.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "8.3% (2018)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 3.2% of population (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "high (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "malaria"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "50% (2016)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "11.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "0 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; modified by southeast trade winds"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "19.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 3.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 11.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 3.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "71.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "9.7% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "46.9% of total population (2021)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "high (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial diarrhea"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "malaria"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Niue"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Savage Island"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as \"behold the coconut\""
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee"
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue"
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary democracy"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Alofi"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "19 01 S, 169 55 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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&rsquo;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; note - in early 2021, the constitution review committee of the Assembly requested suggestions from the public about changes to the constitution"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "English common law"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "Premier Dalton TAGELAGI (since 10 June 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet chosen by the premier"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term; election last held on 10 June 2020 (next to be held in 2023)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Dalton TAGELAGI elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 13, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 7; Toke TALAGI&nbsp;lost his seat in election"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "last held on 30 May 2020 (next to be held on 2023)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "High Court"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": {
      "text": "Alliance of Independents or AI<br>Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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 symbol(s)": {
      "text": "yellow, five-pointed star; national color: yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Ko e Iki he Lagi\" (The Lord in Heaven)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1974"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2003": {
        "text": "6.2% (2003 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2005": {
        "text": "4% (2005)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2003": {
        "text": "$10.01 million (2003 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$10.01 million (2003) (2003)"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2003": {
        "text": "$5,800 (2003 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "23.5% (2003)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "26.9% (2003)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "49.5% (2003)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "coconuts, taro, fruit, sweet potatoes, tropical fruit, yams, vegetables, lemons, limes, bananas"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "handicrafts, food processing"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "663 (2001)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "text": "<p><strong>note:</strong> most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board</p>"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2001": {
        "text": "12% (2001)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "15.07 million (FY04/05)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "16.33 million (FY04/05)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-12.6% (of GDP) (FY04/05)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2004": {
        "text": "$201,400 (2004 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Indonesia 92%, South Korea 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "tanker ships, fruit juice, thermostats, textiles, measurement devices/appliances (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2004": {
        "text": "$9.038 million (2004 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "New Zealand 43%, United Kingdom 30%, Japan 22% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "hydraulic engines, ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastics (2019)"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2002": {
        "text": "$418,000 (2002 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "1.416 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "1.4279 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "1.4279 (2015)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "1.4279 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "1.2039 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "3 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "2.79 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "2,300 kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "13% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "50 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "54 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "sole provider service for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines; cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms; difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas; mobile is primary source of Internet access; mobile broadband demand is growing&nbsp;due to mobile services (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands; expansion of satellite services (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": ".nu"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,090"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "91.6% (July 2016 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1 (2021)"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "234 km (2017)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "210 km (2017)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "24 km"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "67"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 5, container ship 1, general cargo 25, oil tanker 3, other 33 (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Alofi"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of New Zealand"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>none</p>"
    }
  }
}