Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Introduction
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
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references
Oceania
Area
total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234 land:36 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
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 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%
other:100% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment – current issues
NA
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
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
Languages
English (official), Norfolk (a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian)
Religions
Protestant 45.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.5%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
Population
2,169 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years:63.9%
65 years and over:15.9% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate
0.006% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Net migration rate
NA
Sex ratio
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA
male:NA
female:NA
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA
male:NA
female:NA
Total fertility rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
NA
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:Norfolk Island
Dependency status
self-governing territory of Australia
administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Government type
NA
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)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Constitution
Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
Legal system
English common law and the laws of Australia
Suffrage
18 years of age
universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government:Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
cabinet:Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly
the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary
governor general appointed by the monarch
administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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 to serve three-year terms)
elections:last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results:seats – independents 9 (note – no political parties)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Court of Petty Sessions
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
International organization participation
UPU
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
green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree – endemic to the island – is a symbol of Norfolk Island
note:somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band
National symbol(s)
Norfolk Island pine
National anthem
name: “Come Ye Blessed”
lyrics/music:New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
note:the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as “The Pitcairn Anthem;” as a territory of Australia, “God Save the Queen” is official (see Australia), however, the island does not recognize “Advance Australia Fair”
Economy
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
Labor force
978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 226
Labor force – by occupation
agriculture: 10%
industry and services:90% (2000 est.)
Budget
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures:$4.8 million (FY99/00)
Agriculture – products
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit
cattle, poultry
Industries
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Electricity – production
NA kWh
Electricity – consumption
NA kWh
Exports
$NA (FY91/92)
Exports – commodities
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Imports
$NA
Imports – commodities
NA
Debt – external
$NA
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
1.2137 (2007)
1.3285 (2006)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:228
Airports – with paved runways
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)
Roadways
total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215 paved:53 km
unpaved:27 km (2008)
Ports and terminals
Kingston
Military
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
none