1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical, hot, humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Coastline
51 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Environment--current issues
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
typhoons (especially November to March)
Natural resources
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Terrain
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th century English dialect
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Nationality
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
49 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-2.04% (1999 est.)
Religions
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital
Adamstown
Constitution
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Country name
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code
PC
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (nonresident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA) cabinet: NA elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996) election results: Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of vote--NA
Flag description
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
SPC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years Political parties and leaders: none Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
Legal system
local island by-laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Island Council (10 seats--6 elected by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms) elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1998 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
National holiday
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Economy
Agriculture--products
wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Budget
revenues: $729,884 expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Currency
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$NA
Economy--overview
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
Electricity--consumption
NA kWh
Electricity--exports
NA kWh
Electricity--imports
NA kWh
Electricity--production
NA kWh
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Exports
$NA
Exports--commodities
fruits, vegetables, curios
Exports--partners
NA
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$NA
Imports--commodities
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Imports--partners
NA
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
postage stamps, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
14 able-bodied men (1993)
Labor force--by occupation
no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone system
party line telephone service on the island domestic: NA international: radiotelephone
Telephones
24
Television broadcast stations
0 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Transportation
Airports
none
Highways
total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km Ports and harbors: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none