Niue population pyramid 2026
1,822 people in 2026 (projected). Niue has about 1,800 residents, barely a third of its 1966 peak; most Niueans live in New Zealand, and its tiny pyramid is shaped by who stays and who leaves.
- 2026 population
- 1.8Krank 236 of 237
- Median age
- 35.1 yearsoldest rank 104
- Fertility rate
- 2.44births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Transitional17.2% age 65+
Niue population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Niue age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 21.6% of the population, while 17.2% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 61.1% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Niue’s age structure as transitional; the guide to population pyramid types explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 63.6: about 64 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (35.4 children and 28.2 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Niue’s population pyramid
An island population living mostly abroad
Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, and Niueans hold New Zealand citizenship. Emigration has been so large that the great majority of people of Niuean descent now live in New Zealand. The resident population peaked at about 5,200 in 1966 and had fallen to about 2,000 by 2000; between 1950 and 1999 the UN series records a net outflow of about 7,600 people, roughly four times today’s population. The opening of the international airport in the early 1970s is often linked to the acceleration of departures. The 1975 pyramid shows the pattern clearly: a broad base of children, then a sharp narrowing from the late teens, with the 25–29 band less than a third the size of the 5–9 band.
Too small for smooth bands
With about 1,800 residents, each five-year band below 75 holds roughly 80 to 170 people in 2026, and the sex ratio within a band can swing wildly: at 60–64 there are 65 men and 37 women, a difference of a few dozen people rather than a demographic trend. The bulges and notches the chart shows, such as the wide 15–19 band, should be read in that light. Births and deaths are now in balance at about 27 each a year, and the medium scenario assumes almost no net migration, so the population changes little, reaching about 2,000 by 2050. Neighbouring Cook Islands shares the same New Zealand link and a similar history of departure.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65–69 | 1957–1961 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +31% |
| 15–19 | 2007–2011 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +25% |
| 45–49 | 1977–1981 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +17% |
| 55–59 | 1967–1971 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −15% |
Deaths exceeded births in 2020, but births outnumber deaths in 2026 and in every later year of the medium scenario. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2090.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Niue is projected to record 27 births (about 27 births a year) and 27 deaths, a natural increase of 0. Net migration adds +2 people, ranking #73 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 734 births, 588 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −414. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +20 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 73.2 years55.6 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 67.8 years53.5 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 14.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 18.1per 1,000 births · 93 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 22.4per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.3 yearssex ratio at birth 107.1
Women in Niue are projected to live 5.4 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 93 to 18.1 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #66 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.3 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Niue
The median age of 35.1 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 2.44 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 70.4 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,822 | #236 | Largest first |
| Median age | 35.1 years | #104 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 2.44 | #81 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.3% | #155 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 70.4 years | #173 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 17.2% | #68 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Niue
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15–19 | 172 | 9.4% | 79 / 93 |
| 2 | 10–14 | 146 | 8.0% | 74 / 72 |
| 3 | 20–24 | 130 | 7.1% | 61 / 69 |
| 4 | 0–4 | 127 | 6.9% | 65 / 62 |
| 5 | 45–49 | 126 | 6.9% | 62 / 64 |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Niue has 875 males and 948 females. That is 92.3 males per 100 females, ranking #202 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 48.0% of the population and females for 52.0%. There are 73 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 75.6 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 107.1 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Niue has changed since 1950
The population has decreased from 4,497 in 1950 to 1,822 in 2026, a change of 59%. Over the same span, median age moved from 18.8 to 35.1 years.
The under-15 share changed from 39.2% to 21.6%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 4.7% to 17.2%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Niue’s population is projected to grow by about 8%, reaching 1,966 in 2050. The median age changes from 35.1 to 32.8 years.
The 65+ share is projected to fall by 3.3 percentage points to 13.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 23.4%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest estimated population of 5,238 in 1966. Historical population totals are estimates rather than exact head counts. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4,497 | 18.8 | 6.32 | 54.6 | 199 | 65 | −79 | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 4,826 | 15.9 | 6.95 | 59.4 | 230 | 59 | −148 | +0.1% |
| 1970 | 5,109 | 14.3 | 6.24 | 64.4 | 200 | 45 | −208 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 3,533 | 17.2 | 4.70 | 67.6 | 108 | 30 | −212 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 2,483 | 22.5 | 4.02 | 67.1 | 61 | 27 | −67 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 2,047 | 28.7 | 2.90 | 66.6 | 40 | 26 | −81 | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 1,768 | 33.6 | 3.05 | 67.7 | 31 | 23 | −15 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 1,798 | 36.0 | 2.60 | 69.5 | 25 | 26 | +7 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 1,817 | 36.6 | 2.51 | 70.0 | 25 | 27 | 0 | -0.3% |
| 2024* | 1,818 | 36.4 | 2.49 | 70.1 | 25 | 27 | +10 | +0.4% |
| 2026* | 1,822 | 35.1 | 2.44 | 70.4 | 27 | 27 | +2 | +0.3% |
| 2030* | 1,834 | 33.1 | 2.34 | 70.9 | 31 | 27 | +1 | +0.3% |
| 2040* | 1,907 | 31.4 | 2.14 | 72.3 | 33 | 26 | −1 | +0.3% |
| 2050* | 1,966 | 32.8 | 2.01 | 73.6 | 26 | 23 | +2 | +0.4% |
| 2060* | 2,038 | 33.3 | 1.91 | 74.9 | 28 | 21 | +1 | +0.5% |
| 2070* | 2,157 | 35.1 | 1.85 | 76.3 | 30 | 20 | +5 | +0.4% |
| 2080* | 2,279 | 37.7 | 1.80 | 77.6 | 26 | 22 | +5 | +0.6% |
| 2090* | 2,346 | 39.7 | 1.78 | 78.9 | 26 | 25 | +4 | +0.1% |
| 2100* | 2,394 | 40.2 | 1.75 | 80.2 | 27 | 27 | +4 | +0.1% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 65 | 62 | 127 | 6.9% |
| 5–9 | 64 | 59 | 123 | 6.7% |
| 10–14 | 74 | 72 | 146 | 8.0% |
| 15–19 | 79 | 93 | 172 | 9.4% |
| 20–24 | 61 | 69 | 130 | 7.1% |
| 25–29 | 39 | 64 | 103 | 5.6% |
| 30–34 | 50 | 46 | 96 | 5.2% |
| 35–39 | 45 | 37 | 82 | 4.5% |
| 40–44 | 45 | 51 | 96 | 5.2% |
| 45–49 | 62 | 64 | 126 | 6.9% |
| 50–54 | 51 | 68 | 119 | 6.5% |
| 55–59 | 43 | 51 | 94 | 5.1% |
| 60–64 | 65 | 37 | 102 | 5.6% |
| 65–69 | 64 | 62 | 126 | 6.9% |
| 70–74 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 4.9% |
| 75–79 | 17 | 34 | 51 | 2.8% |
| 80–84 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 1.5% |
| 85–89 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 0.9% |
| 90–94 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 95–99 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Niue’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Réunion93% overlap · median age 38.4
- Wallis and Futuna Islands92% overlap · median age 38.6
- Sri Lanka92% overlap · median age 33.6
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines92% overlap · median age 34.7
- Faroe Islands92% overlap · median age 37.1
- Georgia91% overlap · median age 37.6
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Niue.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Niue Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/niue/
MLA
“Niue Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/niue/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Niue Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/niue/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Niue in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Niue's population in 2026 is projected at 1,822.
What is the median age in Niue?
The projected median age in Niue in 2026 is 35.1 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Niue?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 2.44 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Niue's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 8%, from 1.8K to 2K.
What share of Niue is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 17.2% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 13.9%.
How many babies are born in Niue each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 27 births and 27 deaths in 2026, about 27 births a year. Births exceed deaths by 0.
What is life expectancy in Niue for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 73.2 years for women and 67.8 years for men, a gap of 5.4 years in favour of women.
Does Niue have more immigrants or emigrants?
Niue is projected to gain about 2 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −414.
What is the sex ratio in Niue?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 92.3 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.