Norfolk Island
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
Background: Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation Map references: Australia/Oceania Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E Natural resources: fish Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains 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 Area: total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia Coastline: 32 km Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: NA Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July) Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: NA (2008 est.) Sex ratio: NA HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) Literacy: NA Net migration rate: NA (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian Population: 2,128 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: NA Population growth rate: 0.006% (2008 est.) Languages: English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian Death rate: NA (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9% (2007 est.) Birth rate: NA (2008 est.) Religions: Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census) Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government type: NA Political pressure groups and leaders: none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Dependency status: self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department International organization participation: UPU Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010) election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties) Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law 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 Independence: none (territory of Australia) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island Political parties and leaders: none Capital: name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005 Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh Debt - external: $NA GDP (purchasing power parity): $NA Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004) Labor force: NA Exports: $1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92) Currency (code): Australian dollar (AUD) Economy - overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs. Imports - commodities: NA Industries: tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete Electricity - production: NA kWh Imports: $17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry and services: 90% Currency code: AUD Exports - commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados Economic aid - recipient: $NA Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2002) Budget: revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 700 (2002 est.) Telephones - main lines in use: 2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004) Televisions: 1,200 (1996) Internet country code: .nf Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005) Radios: 2,500 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum (2002) Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005) Telephone system: general assessment: adequate domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1 Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000) Internet hosts: 51 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) Roadways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008) Airports: 1 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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