Niue is divided into 14 villages, which constitute the country's sole level of administrative subdivision. These villages serve as the primary units of local governance in this self-governing island nation in free association with New Zealand. Each village traditionally maintains its own council and community structures that handle local affairs, including land management, village infrastructure, and community services. The village system reflects Niue's small population and geographic size, where centralized national government works alongside village-level administration to deliver public services and maintain civic functions. Villages also preserve traditional governance structures and customs, playing an important role in maintaining Niuean cultural identity and social organization while addressing practical administrative needs at the community level.