2016 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

36 sq km 36 sq km 0 sq km

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

NA lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

Mount Bates 319 m

mean elevation

NA

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

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

25% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 25% 11.5% 63.5% (2011 est.)

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

12 nm 200 nm

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

NA NA NA

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

NA NA NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

Norfolk Islander(s) Norfolk Islander(s)

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

Kingston 29 03 S, 167 58 E UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

29 03 S, 167 58 E

name

Kingston

time difference

UTC+11 (16 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 (2016)

Country name

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

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

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

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general Administrator Gary HARDGRAVE (since 1 July 2014) Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members 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

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 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

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

parliamentary democracy (formerly the Legislative Assembly); overseas territory of Australia; note - in May 2015, the Australian Parliament passed the Norfolk Island Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 which abolished Norfolk Island self-government and replaced it with an interim Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

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

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

Legal system

English common law and the laws of Australia

Legislative branch

unicameral Norfolk Island Regional Council (5 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections last held 28 May 2016; next to be held 2020 party by seats - independents 5 following an administrative 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 consisted of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections on 28 May 2016, the new Norfolk Island Regional Council commenced operations on 1 July 2016

description

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

election results

party by seats - independents 5

elections

elections last held 28 May 2016; next to be held 2020

note

following an administrative 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 consisted of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections on 28 May 2016, the new Norfolk Island Regional Council commenced operations on 1 July 2016

National anthem

"Come Ye Blessed" New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT 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"

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

$4.6 million $4.8 million (FY99/00)

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 - 1.3291 (2015) 1.0358 (2013) 1.0358 (2013) 0.97 (2012) 0.9695 (2011)

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

6% 14% 80% (2006 est.)

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

Internet users

34.6% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

34.6% (July 2015 est.)

total

765

Telephone system

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

domestic

free local calls

general assessment

adequate

international

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

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Kingston

major seaport(s)

Kingston

Roadways

80 km 53 km 27 km (2008)

paved

53 km

total

80 km

unpaved

27 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none