Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 52,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .nc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 24,000 (2001)
Transportation New Caledonia
Railways: 0 km (2002)
Highways: total: 4,825 km paved: 2,287 km unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,261
GRT/1,600 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 note: includes a foreign-owned ship
registered here as a flag of convenience: Malaysia 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 29 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:
4 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under
914 m: 11 (2001)
Heliports: 6 (2001)
Military New Caledonia
Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed
Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $192.3 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.3% (FY96)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues New Caledonia
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New
Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Niue
Introduction
Niue
Background: 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 about 2,100 in 2002) with substantial emigration to New Zealand,
2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography Niue
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 260 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% other: 73% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: increasing attention to conservationist
practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and
burn agriculture
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not
ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands
People Niue
Population: 2,134 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: 0.5% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely
related to the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%,
other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
Adventist)
Languages: Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and
Samoan; English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Niue
Country name: Niue former: Dependency status: 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: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: 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: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing
parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law note: Niue is self-governing, with
the power to make its own laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High
Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000) election results: Sani
LAKATANI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative
Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 19 March 1999 (next
to be held NA March 2002)
Premier Sani LAKATANI (since 1 April 1999) cabinet:
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from
a common roll and 14 are village representatives) election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11;
note - all 20 seats were reelected elections: last held 21 March 2002
(next to be held in March 2005)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP
[Sani LAKATANI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing territory in
free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing territory
in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description: 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 one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm
of the bold red cross
Economy Niue
Economy - overview: 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 migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to
increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services
industry, although Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that
Niue will shut down the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from
New Zealand in 2002 will be about $2.6 million.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.6 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 55%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1995)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid
work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue
Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures
of $NA
Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 3 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 2.79 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro,
yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports: $137,200 (1999)
Exports - commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla,
passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps,
handicrafts
Exports - partners: NZ mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $2.38 million (1999)
Imports - commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery,
fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports - partners: NZ mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code: NZD
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January
2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082
(1997)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Niue
Telephones - main lines in use: 376 (1991)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1991)
Telephone system: domestic: single-line telephone system connects all
villages on island international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet country code: .nu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Niue
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 234 km paved: 86 km unpaved: 148 km (106 km of which
is access and plantation road) (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Niue
Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Niue
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Norfolk Island
Introduction
Norfolk Island
Background: Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal
colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the
island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty
mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
Geography Norfolk Island
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 34.6 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Bates 319 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: most of the 32-km coastline consists of almost
inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small
southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated
People Norfolk Island
Population: 1,866 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over:
15.9% (1996)
Population growth rate: -0.69% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years female: NA years
male: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New
Zealander, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 37.4%, Uniting Church in Australia 14.5%, Roman
Catholic 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, none 12.2%, unknown 17.4%,
other 3.9% (1996)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English
and ancient Tahitian
Literacy: NA
Government Norfolk Island
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department
of Environment, Sport, and Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: Kingston
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts;
English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian
or Norfolk Island law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Anthony
J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997) election results: Geoffrey Robert
GARDNER elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote -
NA% elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the
governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative
Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 29
November 2001 (next to be held by December 2004) head of government:
Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey Robert GARDNER (since
5 December 2001) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the
nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government
policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members
elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes
can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December 2004)
election results: Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white,
and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the
slightly wider white band
Economy Norfolk Island
Economy - overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily
increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual
among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other:
NA% nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed,
cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
Exports - commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine
and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Exports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
Imports - commodities: NA
Imports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,
Asia, Europe
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code: AUD
Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002),
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Norfolk Island
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,087 (1983)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1983)
Telephone system: general assessment: adequate domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 2,500 (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station plus two
repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)
Televisions: 1,200 (1996)
Internet country code: .nf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Norfolk Island
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Norfolk Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Norfolk Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Niger
Introduction
Niger
Background: Not until 1993, 35 years after independence from France,
did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord
ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999
were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that
effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999.
Geography Niger
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.267 million sq km water: 300 sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,697 km border countries: Algeria 956 km,
Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali
821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling
plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point:
Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold,
petroleum
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% other: 96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation;
desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus,
giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world:
northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable
for livestock and limited agriculture
People Niger
Population: 10,639,744 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,594,932; female 2,503,867)
15-64 years: 49.8% (male 2,594,307; female 2,706,164) 65 years and over:
2.3% (male 125,898; female 114,576) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.7% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 49.95 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 22.25 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 122.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 41.77 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 7 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 17,700 (2002est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri
(Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French
expatriates
Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 15.3% male: 21.2% female: 9.4% (2002)
Government Niger
Country name: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Government
type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular -
departement) and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa,
Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national
referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22
December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head
of government head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22
December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head
of government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was
appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities
with the president cabinet: 23-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last
held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime minister appointed
by the president election results: Mamadou TANDJA elected president;
percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 59.9%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40.1%