| Norfolk Island (territory of Australia) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Norfolk Island | Introduction | Top of Page

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.

Norfolk Island | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates: | 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references: | Oceania

Area: | total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: | about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 32 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate: | subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: | volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: | fish

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 0% other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues: | NA

Norfolk Island | People | Top of Page

Population: | 1,879 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%

Population growth rate: | -0.71% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: | NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: | NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Total fertility rate: | NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups: | descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Religions: | Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Languages: | English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Norfolk Island | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status: | territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories

Government type: | NA

Capital: | Kingston

Administrative divisions: | none (territory of Australia)

Independence: | none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: | Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)

Constitution: | Norfolk Island Act of 1979

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

Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Anthony J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Ronald Coane NOBBS (since 23 February 2000) 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; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 23 February 2000 (next to be held by March 2003) election results: Ronald Coane NOBBS elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%

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; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held 23 February 2000 (next to be held by March 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders: | none

Political pressure groups and leaders: | none

International organization participation: | none

Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia)

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

Norfolk Island | Economy | Top of Page

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.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate: | NA%

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA%

Labor force: | 1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: | tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Unemployment rate: | NA%

Budget: | revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

Industries: | tourism

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | NA kWh

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Agriculture - products: | Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Exports: | $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)

Exports - commodities: | postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners: | Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: | $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports - commodities: | NA

Imports - partners: | Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt - external: | $NA

Economic aid - recipient: | $NA

Currency: | Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code: | AUD

Exchange rates: | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)

Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Norfolk Island | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | 1,087 (1983)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 0 (1983)

Telephone system: | general assessment: adequate domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: | 2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations: | 1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)

Televisions: | 1,200 (1996)

Internet country code: | .nf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Norfolk Island | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2001)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.)

Airports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Norfolk Island | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia

Norfolk Island | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none