2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

34.6 sq km

total

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

highest point

Mount Bates 319 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forests and woodland

0%

other

75% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

25%

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

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

female

NA years

male

NA years

total population

NA years

Nationality

adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

1,892 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.68% (2000 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

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

Kingston

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997)

election results

George Charles SMITH elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA

elections

the monarch is hereditary; 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 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)

head of government

Assembly President and Chief Minister George Charles SMITH (since 30 April 1997)

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

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 serve three-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

elections

last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)

National holiday

Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

revenues

$4.6 million

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$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 - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA%

hydro

NA%

nuclear

NA%

other

NA%

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)

Exports

$1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)

Exports - commodities

postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

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%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports - commodities

NA

Imports - partners

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

2,500 (1996)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

international

radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,087 (1983)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1983)

Television broadcast stations

1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions

1,200 (1996)

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

53 km

total

80 km

unpaved

27 km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS