Pitcairn Islands

Airports

none

Highways

total: 6.4 km unpaved: earth 6.4 km

Ports

Bounty Bay

Railroads

none

Telecommunications

24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products

Budget

revenues: $430,000 expenditures: $429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000

Electricity

capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989)

Exports

$NA commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Imports

$NA commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs partners: NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

postage stamp sales, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

Overview

The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugar cane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 47 sq km land area: 47 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline

51 km

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to typhoons (especially November to March) international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location

Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Peru and New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural resources

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish

Terrain

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Adamstown

Constitution

Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Digraph

PC

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands David Joseph MOSS (since NA September 1990); Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liason person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA)

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Island Council

elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch

Island Court

Legal system

local island by-laws

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

SPC

Names

conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

National holiday

Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

Other political or pressure groups

NA

Political parties and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Type

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

Ethnic divisions

descendants of the Bounty mutineers

Infant mortality rate

NA

Labor force

NA by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Languages

English (official), Tahitian/English dialect

Life expectancy at birth

NA

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Net migration rate

NA

Population

71 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.93% (1994 est.)

Religions

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Total fertility rate

NA