SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(6 fields)
Broadcast media
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite (2009)
Internet country code
.nf
Internet hosts
93 (2010) country comparison to the world: 202
Telephone system
general assessment: adequate domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
Telephones - main lines in use
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2,500) and digital (32) circuits (2004) country comparison to the world: 221
Telephones - mobile cellular
0 (2002) country comparison to the world: 220
◆ ECONOMY(14 fields)
Agriculture - products
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Debt - external
$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 - production
NA kWh
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010), 1.2822 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006)
Exports
$1.5 million (FY91/92) country comparison to the world: 217
Exports - commodities
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$NA
Imports
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92); $17.9 million country comparison to the world: 218
Imports - commodities
NA
Industries
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Labor force
978 (2006) country comparison to the world: 226
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 10% industry and services: 90%
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 36 sq km country comparison to the world: 234 land: 36 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
Geography - note
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
typhoons (especially May to July)
Natural resources
fish
Terrain
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
◆ GOVERNMENT(20 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status
self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
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); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007) cabinet: Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation
UPU
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 to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013) election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
National anthem
name: "Come Ye Blessed" lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a territory of Australia, "God Save the Queen" is official (see Australia), however, the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair"
National holiday
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
◆ PEOPLE(19 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA male: NA female: NA
Languages
English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Net migration rate
NA
Population
2,155 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 231
Population growth rate
0.006% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Religions
Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
Sex ratio
NA
Total fertility rate
NA
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 228
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Ports and terminals
Kingston
Roadways
total: 80 km country comparison to the world: 215 paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008)