Niue

NIUE

Information about travelling to Niue

Niue is located in Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Facts about Niue
Population1,444 (July 2008 est.)
CapitalAlofi
Time zoneUTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

General info about Niue
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,444 in 2008), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Languages spoken
Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Ethnic division
Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
NA
Climate
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Resources
fish, arable land
Economy
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. 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. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. 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 a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
Environment
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Cities in Niue

alofi     avatele     hakupu     lakepa     liku     makefu     mutalau     namukulu     tuapa    



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