1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Coastline
51 km
Comparative area
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Environment
subject to typhoons (especially November to March)
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%
Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Note
located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Peru and New Zealand
Terrain
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Total area
47 km2; land area: 47 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Ethnic divisions
descendants of Bounty mutineers
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
NA; no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Language
English (official); also a Tahitian/English dialect
Life expectancy at birth
NA years male, NA years female (1991)
Literacy
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Nationality
noun--Pitcairn Islander(s); adjective--Pitcairn Islander
Net migration rate
NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
NA
Population
56 (July 1991), growth rate 0.0% (1991)
Religion
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman (1991)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital
Adamstown
Communists
none
Constitution
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Elections
Island Council--last held NA (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch
British monarch, governor, island magistrate
Flag
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Island Court
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Governor and UK High Commissioner to New Zealand David Joseph MOSS (since NA 1990); Head of Government--Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Brian YOUNG (since NA 1985)
Legal system
local island by-laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Island Council
Long-form name
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
Member of
SPC
National holiday
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June), 10 June 1989
Other political or pressure groups
NA
Political parties and leaders
NA
Suffrage
universal at age 18 with three years residency
Type
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Agriculture
based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products
Budget
revenues $430,440; expenditures $429,983, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY87 est.)
Currency
New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
none
Electricity
110 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced, 5,360 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6798 (January 1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6866 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
Exports
$NA; commodities--fruits, vegetables, curios; partners--NA
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
GDP
$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Imports
$NA; commodities--fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs; partners--NA
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Overview
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
none
Highways
6.4 km dirt roads
Ports
Bounty Bay
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK _%_