1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Climate
subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
32 km
Comparative area
less than one-fourth the size of Washington, D.C.
Contiguous zone
12 nm
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
subject to typhoons (especially May to July)
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 25% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other
Language
English (official); Norfolk—a mixture of 18th Century English and ancient Tahitian
Literacy
probably high
Special notes
none
Terrain
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Territorial sea
8 nm
Total area
40 km?; land area: 40 km?
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently, Australian and New Zealand settlers
Nationality
noun—Norfolk Islander(s); adjective—Norfolk Islander
Population
2,537 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.56%
Religion
Church of England, Roman Catholic Church, Uniting Church in Australia, and Seventh-Day Adventists
Government
Branches
9-member elected Legislative Assembly; chief executive is Australian administrator named by governor general
Capital
Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Elections
last held 18 May 1983; every three years
Government leader
David E. BUFFETT, Chief Minister (since 1983)
Legal system
wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court
National holiday
Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June
Official name
Territory of Norfolk Island
Suffrage
proportional representation; all persons born on the island are Australian citizens
Type
Australian territory
Economy
Agriculture
Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit
Budget
revenue, $2.7 million; expenditure, $3.3 million (1983); main source of income is sale of postage stamps and customs duties; expenses—administrative $1.2 million, education $0.5 million, health $0.5 million, welfare $0.2 million, maintenance $0.4 million
Electric power
7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,240 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$2.9 billion (1982-83); seed of the Norfolk Island pine; Kentia palm seeds, small quantities of avocados
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June
Imports
$15.1 million (1982-83)
Major industries
tourism ($10 million)
Major trade partners
imports—Australia and Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Asia, Europe; exports—Australia and Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe
Monetary conversion rate
1.55 Australian dollars=US$1 (November 1986)
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,489 m (Australian-owned airport)
Highways
80 km of roads, including 53 km of sealed roads; remainder are earth formed or coral surfaced
Inland waterways
none
Ports
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1982)