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.
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.
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.
" } }, "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 (2022)" }, "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 2022 est.)", "note": "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 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.)", "note": "note: 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%, 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.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "NA" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "NA" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "NA" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "70.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "44.9" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "25.4" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "3.9 (2021)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "-0.03% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Death rate": { "text": "(2021 est.) NA" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "48.2% of total population (2023)" }, "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" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "NA" }, "male": { "text": "NA" }, "female": { "text": "NA" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "(2021 est.) NA" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 97% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 3% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "7.8% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "NA" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 95.5% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 4.5% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "50% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "NA" }, "Literacy": { "total population": { "text": "NA" }, "male": { "text": "NA" }, "female": { "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" } }, "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": "48.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "11.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "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": "note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee" }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary democracy" }, "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" }, "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; 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’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": "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 Helen TUNNAH (since July 2020)" }, "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 8 May 2023 (next to be held in 2026)" }, "election results": { "text": "Dalton TAGELAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4" } }, "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 29 April 2023 (next to be held on 2026)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "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": "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": { "text": "none" }, "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": "note: adopted 1974" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; massive emigration; postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming; depends on New Zealand subsidies; EU preferential market access not utilized" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2003": { "text": "$10.01 million (2003 est.)" } }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2003": { "text": "6.2% (2003 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2003": { "text": "$5,800 (2003 est.)" } }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$10.01 million (2003) (2003)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2005": { "text": "4% (2005)" } }, "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": "note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
" }, "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, collector's items, commemorative coins, fruits, nuts, juice, electrical resistors (2021)" }, "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": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "3,000 kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "2.6 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2020 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "400,000 kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "100 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2017 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 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "8,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "8,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "0 Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "52 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "in 2020, the Manatua One Polynesia Fiber Cable provided Niue with high speed Internet access for the first time replacing a 4 megabit satellite link with gigabit fiber connectivity; the government set out a strategy to upgrade to a new infrastructure that would be robust enough to operate reliably in a challenging climate: 40 40°C heat, 40% humidity, salty air, frequent power outages during storms, and no air conditioning (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages on island; fixed teledensity at nearly 52 per 100 (2021)" }, "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)" } }, "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": "1,512 (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "79.6% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Airports": { "text": "1 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "1", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "234 km (2017)" }, "paved": { "text": "210 km (2017)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "24 km" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "71" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 4, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 32 (2022)" } }, "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": "none identified
" } } }