Population figures
Total country population
1,935
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
0
Asylum-seekers:
0
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
0
Country context
The self-governing State of Niue occupies a Polynesian location in the South Pacific, positioned east of Tonga and northeast of New Zealand. As an archipelagic territory without land borders, movement of persons to and from Niue occurs exclusively by sea or air. Niue operates in free association with New Zealand under the Constitution of Niue, whereby Niuean nationals hold New Zealand citizenship and defence responsibilities reside with New Zealand authorities.
Niue has not acceded to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, nor to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Niue’s domestic legal framework does not include dedicated legislation on asylum procedures, refugee status determination, or statelessness determination. General immigration matters are governed by the Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1985, which provides administrative powers for entry, residence and removal but contains no provisions specific to persons in need of international protection or individuals at risk of statelessness.
...Refugees reside among host communities, utilizing local accommodation and informal support. These persons originate primarily from Pacific island States, with occasional arrivals from further afield; they integrate into village and coastal communities, often relying on familial or private-sector housing.
Niuean citizenship is conferred exclusively under New Zealand’s Citizenship Act, through descent, registration, or naturalisation by residence in New Zealand. No separate Niuean nationality law exists. As a result, statelessness prevention and reduction for persons connected to Niue depend on New Zealand’s obligations under the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, despite New Zealand’s non‑accession to the 1954 Statelessness Convention. The Constitution of Niue delegates citizenship authority to New Zealand, ensuring that any gaps in nationality safeguards for persons born or residing in Niue are addressed through the New Zealand legislative framework.
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Sources: UNHCR Refugee Data finder https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ | 2023 year end figures. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022, Online Edition https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/ | Mid-year 2024 population estimates