2023 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 the land tenure and governance structures they previously had. 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. Following 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.

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

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 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 (2022)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

25% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.)

forest

11.5% (2018 est.)

other

63.5% (2018 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

Age structure

0-14 years

NA

15-64 years

NA

65 years and over

NA

Birth rate

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

NA

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: NA

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: NA

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: respondents were able to identify up to two ancestries; percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in Norfolk Island, including those who did not identify an ancestry; only top responses are shown

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Languages

English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official; also known as Norfuk or Norf'k, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.)

note

note: data represent language spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

Physicians density

NA

Population

1,748 (2016 est.)

Population distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: NA

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: NA

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the British 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

amendments

amended many times, last in 2020

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 Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774

Dependency status

self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by 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

cabinet

Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

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 Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017)

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

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

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government 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); 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

description

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

election results

seats by party - independent 5; composition - men 4, women 1, percent of women 20%

elections

last held on 28 May 2016 (next originally scheduled for 13 March 2021 was postponed); note - on 6 December 2021, the councillors of the Norfolk Island Regional Council were formally dismissed by the assistant minister and appointed as Administrator of the Council until 2024

National anthem

lyrics/music

New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT

name

"Come Ye Blessed"

note

note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair" (which other Australian territories use); instead "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$4.8 million (FY99/00)

revenues

$4.6 million (FY99/00)

Debt - external

NA

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 2013

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.3291 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.3291 (2015)

Exchange rates 2016

1.3291 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.311 (2017 est.)

Exports

NA

Exports - commodities

pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup, cleaning products, scrap aluminum (2021)

Exports - partners

Philippines 29%, Singapore 21%, India 14%, Belgium 7%, Australia 5%, Canada 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

clothing and apparel, chemical analysis instruments, refined petroleum, cars, kitchen machinery (2019)

Imports - partners

New Zealand 23%, Australia 19%, Philippines 19%, Singapore 14%, Fiji 11% (2019)

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Labor force

978 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

6%

industry

14%

services

80% (2006 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

NA

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.)

total

806 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

free local calls

general assessment

the current infrastructure consists of fixed line telephone utilizing copper twisted pair cable and optic fiber, two Satellite Earth Station, GSM Mobile switch with five remote base stations and 2 micro cells, central public exchange which switches international as well as national calls, ADSL Broadband internet connection (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line), and an ISP (Internet Service Provider); 3G/4G telecommunications network went live on Tuesday 12 January, 2021 (2021)

international

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

Airports

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Kingston

Roadways

paved

53 km (2008)

total

80 km (2008)

unpaved

27 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none identified

Climate

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Environment - current issues

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

Land use

agricultural land

25% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.)

forest

11.5% (2018 est.)

other

63.5% (2018 est.)