Norfolk Island

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

2,500 (1996)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,087 (1983)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1983)

Television broadcast stations

1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions

1,200 (1996)

Agriculture - products

Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Budget

revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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.

Electricity - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports - commodities

NA

Imports - partners

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

32 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 est.)

Location

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (especially May to July)

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

Kingston

Constitution

Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Data code

NF

Dependency status

territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport and Territories

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister George Charles SMITH (since 30 April 1997) 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 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 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000) election results: George Charles SMITH elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

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

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 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

National holiday

Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic groups

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

1,892 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.68% (2000 est.)

Religions

Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Railways

0 km