2020 Edition

Background

Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500, but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions -- were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands. Some returned to the Pitcairn Islands over the next few years, but most settled permanently on Norfolk Island and recreated their previous land tenure and governance structures. Norfolk Island retained a great degree of local control until 1897, when it became a dependency of New South Wales. During World War II, Norfolk Island was an airbase and an important refueling stop in the South Pacific. In 1976, an Australian judge recommended Norfolk Island be incorporated fully into Australia, which Norfolk Islanders rejected. After an appeal to the UN, Australia granted limited self-government to Norfolk Island in 1979. With growing financial troubles during the 2000s, Australia abolished the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly in 2015, reduced Norfolk Island’s autonomy in 2016, and suspended the local council in 2020. Most services are provided by a mix of the Australian Capital Territory and the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These moves were unpopular on Norfolk Island, which has sought to have its self-government restored and as of 2024, the Australian Government was working with Norfolk Island to establish a new local governing body.

Area

land

36 sq km

total

36 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

32 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Bates 319 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Geography - note

most of the 32-km (20-mi) 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 located

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

25% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.)

forest

12.2% (2023 est.)

other

62.8% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Natural resources

fish

Population distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Terrain

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Ethnic groups

Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.)

Languages

English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official, a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

Population

female

916

male

823

total

1,739 (2021)

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions

Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April

etymology

the name blends the words "king's" and "town;" the English king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was GEORGE III

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

history

previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of Norfolk Island

conventional short form

Norfolk Island

etymology

named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Edward HOWARD, the ninth Duke of Norfolk, in 1774

Dependency status

administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)

election/appointment process

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 George PLANT (since 1 June 2023)

Flag

description: three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white band meaning: green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol

Government type

administered as an overseas territory of Australia

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 several justices)

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

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

March 2021 (postponed)

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Norfolk Island Regional Council

most recent election date

5/28/2016

number of seats

5 (directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

independent (5)

percentage of women in chamber

20%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National coat of arms

Norfolk Island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, and in 1980, Queen Elizabeth II granted it a separate coat of arms (pictured); in the center is the island’s symbol, the Norfolk Island Pine, with Britain’s lion and Australia’s kangaroo supporting the shield; the island’s motto, “Inasmuch,” comes from a verse in the Bible’s Gospel of Matthew

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Norfolk Island pine

Political parties

Norfolk Island Labor Party  Norfolk Liberals 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Economic overview

high-income Australian territorial economy; key tourism and re-exportation industries; small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs; former tax haven; increasing medical cannabis exporter; little transportation infrastructure

Exchange rates

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021)

Exports - partners

USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023)

Imports - partners

Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023)

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.nf

Internet users

percent of population

46.1% (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Ports

key ports

Kingston

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

0

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Environmental issues

inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem