Norfolk Island

Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500, but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned.In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions -- were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands. Some returned to the Pitcairn Islands over the next few years, but most settled permanently on Norfolk Island and recreated their previous land tenure and governance structures. Norfolk Island retained a great degree of local control until 1897, when it became a dependency of New South Wales. During World War II, Norfolk Island was an airbase and an important refueling stop in the South Pacific. In 1976, an Australian judge recommended Norfolk Island be incorporated fully into Australia, which Norfolk Islanders rejected. After an appeal to the UN, Australia granted limited self-government to Norfolk Island in 1979.With growing financial troubles during the 2000s, Australia abolished the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly in 2015, reduced Norfolk Island’s autonomy in 2016, and suspended the local council in 2020. Most services are provided by a mix of the Australian Capital Territory and the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These moves were unpopular on Norfolk Island, which has sought to have its self-government restored and as of 2024, the Australian Government was working with Norfolk Island to establish a new local governing body.

land

36 sq km

total

36 sq km

water

0 sq km

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

32 km

highest point

Mount Bates 319 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

29 02 S, 167 57 E

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

0 sq km (2022)

total

0 km

agricultural land

25% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.)

forest

11.5% (2018 est.)

other

63.5% (2018 est.)

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

Oceania

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

fish

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.)

note

note: respondents were able to identify up to two ancestries; percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in Norfolk Island, including those who did not identify an ancestry; only top responses are shown

English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official, a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.)

note

note: data represent language spoken at home

adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

total

1,748 (2016 est.)

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

0.01% (2014 est.)

Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)

none (territory of Australia)

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April

etymology

the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the British king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was GEORGE III

geographic coordinates

29 03 S, 167 58 E

name

Kingston

time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see Australia

amendments

amended many times, last in 2020

history

previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979

conventional long form

Territory of Norfolk Island

conventional short form

Norfolk Island

etymology

named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774

self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

none (territory of Australia)

cabinet

Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia

head of government

Administrator Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017)

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

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; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

none (territory of Australia)

UPU

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal

English common law and the laws of Australia

description

unicameral Norfolk Island Regional Council (5 seats; councillors directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); mayor elected annually by the councillors

election results

seats by party - independent 5; composition - men 4, women 1, percentage women 20%

elections

last held on 28 May 2016 (next originally scheduled for 13 March 2021 but was postponed)

lyrics/music

New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT

name

"Come Ye Blessed"

note

note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair" (which other Australian territories use); instead "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Norfolk Island pine

Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals 

18 years of age; universal

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

high-income Australian territorial economy; key tourism and re-exportation industries; small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs; former tax haven; increasing medical cannabis exporter; little transportation infrastructure

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1.439 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup, cleaning products, scrap aluminum (2021)

India 16%, Belgium 14%, US 14%, Malaysia 13%, Singapore 10% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

clothing and apparel, chemical analysis instruments, refined petroleum, cars, kitchen machinery (2019)

Australia 34%, Philippines 19%, NZ 17%, Fiji 9%, Brazil 7% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)

.nf

percent of population

46.1% (2021 est.)

total

806 (2021 est.)

domestic

free local calls

general assessment

the current infrastructure consists of fixed line telephone utilizing copper twisted pair cable and optic fiber, two Satellite Earth Station, GSM Mobile switch with five remote base stations and 2 micro cells, central public exchange which switches international as well as national calls, ADSL Broadband internet connection (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line), and an ISP (Internet Service Provider); 3G/4G telecommunications network went live on Tuesday 12 January, 2021 (2021)

international

country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

1 (2024)

key ports

Kingston

ports with oil terminals

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

paved

53 km

total

80 km

unpaved

27 km (2008)

defense is the responsibility of Australia

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

inadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem

agricultural land

25% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.)

forest

11.5% (2018 est.)

other

63.5% (2018 est.)