Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Introduction
Background
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.
Geography
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total: 47 sq km
country comparison to the world: 233 land:47 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
about three tenths the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
51 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
Climate
tropical
hot and humid
modified by southeast trade winds
rainy season (November to March)
Terrain
rugged volcanic formation
rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Big Ridge 347 m
Natural resources
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note:manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Land use
arable land: NA
permanent crops:NA
other:NA
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment – current issues
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Geography – note
Britain’s most isolated dependency
only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor
supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed offshore
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective:Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Languages
English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Religions
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Population
48 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 238
Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years:NA
65 years and over:NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Net migration rate
NA
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form:Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Government type
NA
Capital
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates:25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference:UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution
The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010, effective 4 March 2010
Legal system
local island by-laws
Suffrage
18 years of age
universal with three years residency
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 Victoria M. TREADELL (since May 2010)
Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government:Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008)
cabinet:NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary
governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch
island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term
election last held in December 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)
election results:Mike WARREN reelected mayor and chairman of the Island Council
Legislative branch
unicameral Island Council (11 seats
mayor, deputy mayor, 4 members elected by popular vote, 1 member appointed by the governor, 3 ex officio members including governor, deputy governor, and commissioner
deputy mayor and elected members serve two-year terms)
elections:last held on 24 December 2009 (next to be held on 24 December 2011)
election results:percent of vote – NA
seats – 4 independents
Judicial branch
Magistrate’s Court
Supreme Court
Court of Appeal
judicial officers are appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
International organization participation
SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean
the green field features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty)
sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro (a local plant)
National anthem
name: “We From Pitcairn Island”
lyrics/music:unknown/Frederick M. LEHMAN
note:serves as a local anthem
as a territory of the United Kingdom, “God Save the Queen” is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economy – overview
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated 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. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn’s small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$NA
Labor force
15 able-bodied men (2004)
country comparison to the world: 229
Labor force – by occupation
note: no business community in the usual sense
some public works
subsistence farming and fishing
Budget
revenues: $746,000
expenditures:$1.028 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture – products
honey
wide variety of fruits and vegetables
goats, chickens, fish
Industries
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Electricity – production
NA kWh
note – electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered generator
Exports
$NA
Exports – commodities
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Imports
$NA
Imports – commodities
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.3874 (2010)
1.6002 (2009)
1.4151 (2008)
1.3811 (2007)
1.5408 (2006)
Transportation
Ports and terminals
Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Military
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
none