2015 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

36 sq km

total

36 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

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 25%

agricultural land

25%

forest

11.5%

other

63.5% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

typhoons (especially May to July)

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Ethnic groups

Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Languages

English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

Population

2,210 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions

Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

geographic coordinates

29 03 S, 167 58 E

name

Kingston

time difference

UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2015 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of Norfolk Island

conventional short form

Norfolk Island

Dependency status

self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general

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 Gary HARDGRAVE (since 1 July 2014)

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; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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

Legal system

English common law and the laws of Australia

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Regional Council (structure to be determined); interim Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015

election results

interim Advisory Council seats - 5 (appointed)

elections

elections for the new Regional Council will occur in early 2016

note

following an adminstrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 to be replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council will consist of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections in early 2016, the new Regional Council will commence operations on 1 July 2016

National anthem

lyrics/music

New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT

name

"Come Ye Blessed"

note

the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a territory of Australia, "God Save the Queen" is official (see Australia); however, the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair"

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Norfolk Island pine

Political parties and leaders

Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY]

Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]

Political pressure groups 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 (FY99/00)

revenues

$4.6 million

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.1094 (2014)

1.0358 (2013)

0.97 (2012)

0.9695 (2011)

1.0902 (2010)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

NA

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Labor force

978 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

6%

industry

14%

services

80% (2006 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.nf

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Telephone system

domestic

free local calls

general assessment

adequate

international

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

Television broadcast stations

1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Kingston

Roadways

paved

53 km

total

80 km

unpaved

27 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none