1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: NA% 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
People and Society
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 male: NA female: NA
Nationality
noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
2,179 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.69% (1998 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
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
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
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and Australia are represented by Administrator A.J. MESSNER (since NA) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995) 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 queen is a hereditary monarch; 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 NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: David Earnest BUFFETT 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions Political parties and leaders: none
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 NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 9
National capital
Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
National holiday
Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
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
$NA
Economic aid
none
Economy-overview
The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 28,000 in FY92/93. Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
Electricity-capacity
NA kW
Electricity-consumption per capita
NA kWh
Electricity-production
NA kWh
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1-1.5281 (January 1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)
Exports
total value: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92) commodities: NA partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 1,395 (1991 est.) by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
2,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Telephones
1,087 (1983 est.)
Television broadcast stations
0
Televisions
1,500 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)