SOPAC country profile : Niue

Abstract

SOPAC country profile, Niue is a single uplifted coral atoll in an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 390 000 sq km. The island,which had an estimated population of 2 000 in 19991,has a total land area of 259 sq km and a maximum height of 65 m above sea level.Located at the edge of the tropical cyclone belt, in the southeast trade winds zone, Niue experiences ana verage of one severe cyclone per decade. Otherwise,the atoll has a pleasant climate with two distinct seasons; the hot wet season from November to March and the cool dry season from April to November.Rainfall averages 2 200 mm per year and the mean temperature is 25°C.International aid, especially from New Zealand, and remittances are the mainstays of the Niue economy.However, subsistence agriculture has a vital role in the economy together with minor successes in boosting exports of agricultural products.