2000 Edition

Background

Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to about 50 today.

Area

land

47 sq km

total

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

highest point

Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Geographic coordinates

25 04 S, 130 06 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

NA%

forests and woodland

NA%

other

NA%

permanent crops

NA%

permanent pastures

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

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

female

NA years

male

NA years

Nationality

adjective

Pitcairn Islander

noun

Pitcairn Islander(s)

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

54 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-2.06% (2000 est.)

Religions

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

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 Martin WILLIAMS (since NA May 1998); Commissioner (nonresident) Leon SALT (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)

election results

Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of vote - 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 was to be held NA December 1996)

head of government

Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since 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

Judicial branch

Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years

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)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents

elections

take place each December; last held NA December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2000)

National holiday

Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Agriculture - products

wide variety of fruits and vegetables

Budget

expenditures

$878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

revenues

$729,884

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

The inhabitants of this tiny economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. 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 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

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

12 able-bodied men (1997)

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%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

NA

Telephone system

party line telephone service on the island

domestic

NA

international

radiotelephone

Telephones - main lines in use

1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line) (1997)

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Televisions

NA

Airports

none

Highways

paved

0 km

total

6.4 km

unpaved

6.4 km

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bounty Bay

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Disputes - international

none

POLAND