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PACIFIC ISLANDS BUSINESS INDICATORS

Niue
Exchange Rate: 1 $ Local currency = x $US
Currency

NZ$

Calendar Year 1996

0.69

Calendar Year 1997 (used in tables)

0.70

Q1 1998

0.57

% Change 1996 - Q1 1998

-17%

GENERAL

Land Area

259 km2

EEZ

390,000 km2

GDP

US$8 million (1994)

GNP per Capita

US$3.447 (1994)

Human Development Index

0.879 (1994)

Life Expectancy

66 years (1987)

Infant Mortality

12 per 1000 births (1990)

LABOUR FORCE CONTEXT
Population (1,000s latest census) 1

2

Potential Labour Force, age 15-59

1.10

Unpaid/underemployed labour force (%) 2
male

32

female

32

Quality of Local Labour Force3
Adult literacy rate (%)

99

Enrolment rate secondary schools (%)

87

LABOUR FORCE CONDITIONS
Legislated minimum wage

-

Average Wage Rates ($per hour)4
Managerial

9.90

Supervisory

7

Skilled

4.60

Semi Skilled

2.20

Unskilled

2

Normal number of hours work per week

37.50

No. paid holidays per year

11

Employer Contributions (% wage bill)
Workers Superannuation Fund
compulsory?

Yes

rate (%)

11.20

Western Compensation Fund
compulsory?

No

rate (%)5
Electricity
connection fee

21

tariff per kilowat hour

0.21/0.33

Water & Sewage
water connection fee ($)

n/a

sewage connection fee

-

sewage rate

-

Telephone
installation fee ($)

35

line/equipment rental rate ($) per year

84

rate per local call ($)

0

long distance rates ($) per minute
Japan (Tokyo)

2.80

USA (Los Angeles)

2.90

United Kingdom (London)

2.90

Australia (Sydney)

1.60

New Zealand (Auckland)

1.30

Singapore

2.90

Neighbouring Forum Island countries
Tonga

1.60

Samoa
Fiji

1.60

Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu
Marshall Islands
Tuvalu
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Solomon Islands
Cook Islands
Nauru
Palau
Total Cost 1 year of service 1

2,711

Internet/E-mail
connection fee

35

rental rate per year

84

no. free hours per month included in rental

n/a

rate per additional hour use

n/a

Total cost 1 year of service2
Sea Freight (cif) per cubic metre 1
Japan (Tokyo)
USA (Los Angeles)
United Kingdom (London)
Australia (Sydney)

182

New Zealand (Auckland)

93

Singapore
Neighbouring Forum Island Countries
Tonga
Samoa
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Palau
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Air Freight (cif) per kilogram
Japan (Tokyo)

10.50

USA (Los Angeles)

15.00

United Kingdom (London)

15.80

Australia (Sydney)

5.30

New Zealand (Auckland)

2.80

Singapore

18.80

Neighbouring Forum Island Countries
Tonga
Samoa
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Kiribati
Federated States of Micronesia
Papua New Guinea
Cook Islands
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Palau
Land
total area (sq kilometers

258

Customary land
Proportion customarily owned (%)

n/a

Max period for commercial lease (yrs)

60

Average lease rate per acre per annum
agricultural land ($)

8.28

commercial land ($)

210-750

Free hold land
average purchase price per acre

-

Factory Space
average annual rental price per sq ft

0.30

Commercial Banking
Commercial Banks, excl Dev Banks (No)

1

Lending rate range (% per annum)

14.85-16.85

Average lending rate (% per annum)

n/a

Personal Tax Rates (Brackets)
No tax
rate of 5%
rate of 6%
rate of 8%
rate of 10%

<3,500

rate of 12%
rate of 15%
rate of 20%
rate of 25%
rate of 30%

3,500-10,500

rate of 35%
rate of 37%
rate of 40%

>10,500

Company Tax Rate (%)
Resident Company
General

30

Mining
Petroleum
Non-Resident Company
General

30

Mining
Petroleum
Other Taxes & Fees
Business Gross Receipt tax (%)
GST/Value added tax (%)

-

Sales tax (%)

-

Annual business licence fees ($)

n/a

Import Duty Rates (% range)
manufacturing inputs

10

general (excluding cigarettes, liquor et)

Oct-40