{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the adjacent Cook Islands, has caused it to be separately administered by New Zealand. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,190 in 2014) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest."
    }
  },
  "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": {
      "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": {
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "elevation extremes": {
        "text": "lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m ++ highest point: unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "fish, arable land"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "19.1% ++ arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 11.5%; permanent pasture 3.8%"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "71.2%"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "9.7% (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "typhoons"
    },
    "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, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection"
      }
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "one of world's largest coral islands"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "1,190 (July 2014 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Niuean(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Niuean"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Niuen 66.5%, part-Niuen 13.4%, non-Niuen 20.1% (includes 12% European and Asian and 8% Pacific Islanders) (2011 est.)"
    },
    "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) 67%, other Protestant 3% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 1%, Presbyterian 1%, and Methodist 1%), Mormon 10%, Roman Catholic 10%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 6%, none 2% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-0.03% (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "42.5% of total population (2015)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "-0.94% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "ALOFI (capital) 1,000 (2014)"
    },
    "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": "NA"
    },
    "Health expenditures": {
      "text": "7.4% of GDP (2014)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "3 physicians/1,000 population (2008)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 98.4% of population ++ rural: 98.6% of population ++ total: 98.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 1.6% of population ++ rural: 1.4% of population ++ total: 1.5% of population (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 100% of population ++ rural: 100% of population ++ total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved": {
        "text": " ++ urban: 0% of population ++ rural: 0% of population ++ total: 0% of population (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "42.5% (2014)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Niue"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Savage Island"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as \"behold the coconut\""
      }
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue 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"
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "self-governing parliamentary democracy (Fouo Ekepule) in free association with New Zealand"
    },
    "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; note - 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 parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "text": "several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974); amended 1992, 2007 (2016)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "English common law"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Ross ARDEN (since February 2014)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)"
      },
      "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 24 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 12, Stanley KALAUNI 8"
      }
    },
    "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 12 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest resident 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": {
        "text": "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": "Alliance of Independents or AI ++ Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]"
    },
    "Political pressure groups and leaders": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "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": {
      "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": {
        "text": "adopted 1974"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economy - overview": {
      "text": "The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories for processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. ++  ++ 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. Economic aid allocation from New Zealand in FY13/14 was US$10.1 million. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. ++  ++ 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 financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses."
    },
    "GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "text": "$10.01 million (2003 est.)"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$10.01 million (2003)"
    },
    "GDP - real growth rate": {
      "text": "6.2% (2003 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - per capita (PPP)": {
      "text": "$5,800 (2003 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "23.5%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "26.9%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "49.5% (2003)"
      }
    },
    "Agriculture - products": {
      "text": "coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "handicrafts, food processing"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "NA%"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "663 (2001)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "note": {
        "text": "most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "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"
      },
      "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"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "text": "4% (2005)"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "text": "$201,400 (2004 est.)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 25%, Belgium 11%, United Kingdom 8%, France 8%, Italy 4%, United States 4% (2014)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "text": "$9.038 million (2004 est.)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 9%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 7%, Russia 5%, France 4%, Norway 4% (2014)"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "text": "$418,000 (2002 est.)"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "text": "New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - ++ 1.441 (2016 est.) ++ 1.4279 (2015 est.) ++ 1.2039 (2014 est.) ++ 1.2039 (2013 est.) ++ 1.23 (2012 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "4 million kWh (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "3.72 million kWh (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "1,000 kW (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "60 bbl/day (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "64.25 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)"
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": {
      "text": "3,520 Mt (2012 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephone system": {
      "domestic": {
        "text": "single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 683 (2015)"
      }
    },
    "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 (2009)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".nu"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,090"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "91.6% (July 2015 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "text": "1 (2013)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1 (2012)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "120 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "120 km (2011)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Alofi"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military branches": {
      "text": "no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of New Zealand"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "none"
    }
  }
}