Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand
Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. It has its own constitution, conducts its own foreign relations and is a member of several UN specialized agencies. Its people are New Zealand citizens; New Zealand provides assistance with defense and foreign affairs on request.
National Identity
- Official name
- Niue
- Official name (in Niuean)
- Niuē
- 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
Sources:- Constitution of Niue and Associated Documents as at 31 December 2019 ↗ - Government of Niue
- The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- National seal
- National flag
- National anthem
- Ko e Iki he Lagi1:10
- Title (in Niuean)
- Ko e Iki he Lagi
- Title (in English, translated)
- The Lord in Heaven
- Lyrics
Ko e Iki he Lagi Kua fakaalofa mai Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei Kua pule totonu E Patuiki toatu Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei Kua pule ki Niue nei
- Citizens
- Niueans
- Official name:Constitution of Niue and Associated Documents as at 31 December 2019 ↗ - Government of Niue
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
- National anthem:Recording credit
Geography
- Location
- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
- Total area
- 260 km²
- Land area
- 260 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 64 km
- Terrain
Steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau - Highest point
- 80 m
- Lowest point
- 0 mPacific Ocean
- Climate
Tropical modified by southeast trade winds - Avg. temperature
- 25.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 24.7 to 25.9 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,876 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.1 26.4 25.7 259 February 27.4 26.8 26 226 March 27.4 26.7 26 233 April 27 26.4 25.7 187 May 26 25.4 24.8 152 June 25.3 24.7 24.2 82 July 24.6 24 23.5 94 August 24.4 23.8 23.2 87 September 24.6 24.1 23.5 97 October 25.1 24.5 24 124 November 25.9 25.3 24.7 135 December 26.6 26 25.4 200 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable3.8%Perm. crops10.8%Pasture3.8%Forest72.6%Other9.0%
- Arable land
- 1,000 hectares (3.8%)
- Permanent crops
- 2,800 hectares (10.8%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 1,000 hectares (3.8%)
- Forest
- 18,870 hectares (72.6%)
- Other land
- 2,330 hectares (9.0%)
Source:
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +0.11% per year+2 people/yearWorld Rank169thof 237
- Birth rate
- 14.9 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 14.9 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +1.0 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 35.1 yearsWorld Rank105thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years21.7%15-64 years61.1%65 years +17.3%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 17.3%
- Share aged under 18
- 27.5%
- Total dependency ratio
- 64
- Youth dependency ratio
- 35
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 28
- Sex ratio
- 0.92 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 1.0% 1.9% 70-79 3.3% 4.7% 60-69 7.1% 5.5% 50-59 5.2% 6.6% 40-49 5.9% 6.2% 30-39 5.3% 4.6% 20-29 5.6% 7.4% 10-19 8.4% 9.0% 0-9 7.1% 6.7% - 2026
- 0.24 above the replacement level for Niue ()2.44 births per womanreplacement 2.20123World Rank82ndof 237
- 1.13 daughters per woman0.13 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- 0.0 per 1,000 populationbirths and deaths are roughly equal
- 2026
- +1.0 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 37.6% live in 684 urban residents
- Largest villages2022
- Alofi, Hakupu, Avatele, TamakautogaRankVillagePopulation (2022 census)1Alofi6062Hakupu1973Avatele1354Tamakautoga1345Lakepa1106Mutalau947Tuapa918Vaiea869Makefu8310Liku74Source:
- Niue Statistics (2022 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- Population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island.
- Ethnic groups2017
- Niuean65.4%Part-Niuean14.0%Non-Niuean20.6%
Figures cover the resident population.
Source:- The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Religions2017
- Ekalesia Niue61.7%Latter Day Saints8.7%Roman Catholic8.4%Other8.2%Unspecified5.1%None3.7%Jehovah's Witnesses2.7%Seventh Day Adventist1.4%
- Languages
- Niuean (Vagahau Niuē), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Niue Statistics (2022 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyShared with New Zealand, with which it is in free association: the monarch in right of New Zealand is head of state.A New Zealand Act makes Niue self-governing under a supreme-law Constitution; executive authority is vested in the monarch in right of New Zealand, represented for Niue by the Governor-General of New Zealand (Act, ss. 3, 4; Art. 1).
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe Niue Assembly elects the Premier, and the Cabinet is drawn from its members; a lost confidence vote obliges the Premier to leave office within five sitting days unless he asks the Speaker, who dissolves the Assembly, for an election (Arts. 2, 4, 6, 26).
- Official websites
- Capital
- Alofi606 people(2022)
- National holidays
- 13 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriJan 2Takai Commission Holiday
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- SatApr 25ANZAC Day
- MonApr 27ANZAC Day (observed)
- MonJun 1King's Birthday
- MonOct 19Constitution Day
- TueOct 20Constitution Day Holiday
- MonOct 26Peniamina Gospel Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
- SatDec 26Boxing Day
- MonDec 28Boxing Day (observed)
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- NUTNiue TimeUTC−11
- Currency
- New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
- Calling code
- +683
- Internet TLD
- .nu
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- NU, NIU
- Infrastructure
- Airports1 airports
- Key ports
- Alofi
- By size
- 1 very small
Source:- The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Form of state, System of government:Niue Constitution Act 1974 (NZ Public Act 1974 No 42), with the Constitution of Niue (Niuean language version) as Schedule 1, reprint as at 1 April 1988 ↗ - Parliamentary Counsel Office (New Zealand)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
Economy
- Trade2023
- Source:
- The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Taro, Coconuts (in shell), Lemons and limes, and 2 more
- 1Taro196.6×
- 2Coconuts (in shell)87.5×
- 3Lemons and limes5.7×
- 4Sweet potatoes3.3×
- 5Yams2.1×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- handicrafts, food processing
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
Society
- Literacy2022
- 99.1% of adults
- Inbound tourists2021latest available
- 200 arrivalsdown 98% against 201998% below 2019Official tourism site
- Per resident
- 1.1 arrivals per 10 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 1,800 arrivals(2017, latest available)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 500 overnight trips
- Hotel beds
- 267(2017, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2021A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
Crime & Safety
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 70.4 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 18.1 per 1,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 3.3 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Alcohol consumption:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- 2024
- 1 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted230thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture
- International agreements
- 12 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 46 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1996 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 2004 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 2004 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1996 CITES not a party Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2003 Nagoya Protocol not a party Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands not a party World Heritage Convention in force 2001 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1998 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention not a party Rotterdam Convention (PIC) not a party Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2005 Minamata Convention on Mercury not a party Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 2006 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) signed 2025, not ratified MARPOL 73/78 in force 2012 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Niue - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 1.5% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 0 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 0 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity2024
- 66.9% of adults
- Men
- 63.2%
- Women
- 70.2%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 68 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- No domestic productionconsumes 0 EJ in 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 58 b/d in 2024Consumption202458 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists