Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.nu
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
80% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
52 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1,000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.542 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.414 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.577 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.628 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.652 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
abrasive powder, coin (2023)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$20.9 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$19.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$18.7 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$12,400 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$11,800 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,100 (2021 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
400,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
61 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Environment: Environmental issues
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
18.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
72.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
48.2% of total population (2023)
Geography: Area - comparative
1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
260 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
64 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
19 02 S, 169 52 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
18.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
72.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Oceania
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
tropical cyclones
Geography: Population distribution
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
Geography: Terrain
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Government: Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered second-order
Government: Capital: etymology
a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
19 01 S, 169 55 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Niue
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: former
Savage Island
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
Government: 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)
Government: Executive branch: election results
Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
8 May 2023
Government: 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
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court
Government: Legal system
English common law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
April 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
29 April 2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
20
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
independents (20)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
15%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
3 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
in use since 1745
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown
Government: National color(s)
yellow
Government: National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Government: National symbol(s)
yellow five-pointed star
Government: Political parties
none
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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.
Military and Security: 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
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
26.4 (2024)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.8 (2024)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
64.6 (2024)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
38.2 (2024)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure
5.6% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.8% of GDP (2020)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
75.7 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
71.8 years (2016)
People and Society: Literacy: female
100% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
100% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.5% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Niuean
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
50% (2016)
People and Society: Population distribution
population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.03% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
938 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: male
877 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
48.2% of total population (2023)
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
70 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Alofi
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.