Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, situated on a raised coral island in Polynesia. Its capital is Alofi.
Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Alofi; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapNiue is a raised coral island in the South Pacific. A limestone plateau occupies much of the interior, with steep cliffs and terraces around the coast. It lacks the high volcanic mountains of many neighbouring Pacific islands.
Caves, chasms and rocky coastal openings reflect water dissolving and eroding limestone. Access to the sea is concentrated at breaks in the cliffs rather than along continuous broad beaches. Forest and cultivated land occupy parts of the plateau.
Niue has a warm tropical climate moderated by southeast trade winds. A wetter season alternates with a cooler, generally drier period.
Rainwater can move through porous limestone, making groundwater important. The coast is exposed to ocean waves and tropical storms. Forest habitats and the surrounding marine environment form distinct parts of the island’s ecology.
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
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
Coastal erosion has opened a cave in Niue’s limestone shore.
Photo: Tn photography · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Caves reveal the rocky interior of this raised coral island.
Photo: Pia Andrews from Australia · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Vagahau Niue, or Niuean, and English are used in official public life. Niuean is a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan.
English is also widely used, and many Niuean speakers live overseas, especially in New Zealand. Language teaching and community use therefore connect the island with a much wider diaspora.
Niue has a long Polynesian settlement history. It became a British protectorate in 1900 and was brought under New Zealand administration in 1901. In 1974, following a referendum, Niue became self-governing in free association with New Zealand. Niueans retain New Zealand citizenship, and a substantial Niuean community lives overseas.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
Public services, support from New Zealand, tourism and small businesses underpin the economy. Farming, fishing and remittances also support households. A small resident population and limited transport links create high costs for infrastructure and imported goods. Tourism draws on the island’s raised coral landscape and marine environment.
Tourism, public services, farming, fishing and small-scale food and craft production.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
1,564 · 2022 Census · usual residents · Niue Statistics Office
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
The 2022 census counted 1,681 people present, of whom 1,564 regarded Niue as their usual residence. The at-a-glance figure uses the resident measure.
A self-governing parliamentary state in free association with New Zealand. The elected Assembly chooses the head of government, who leads the Cabinet. Niue shares the New Zealand monarch. New Zealand provides economic and administrative assistance and assists with foreign affairs, defence and security when requested.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
Three questions about Niue.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · New Zealand MFAT · Niue · Niue Statistics Office · 2022 Census
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
