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.
Increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Self-governing parliamentary democracy
1,444 (july 2008 est.)
Oceania, island in the south pacific ocean, east of tonga
Total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km
1.5 times the size of washington, dc
Conventional long form: none conventional short form: niue note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: savage island
Name: alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 s, 169 55 w time difference: utc-11 (6 hours behind washington, dc during standard time)
None