Map of Norfolk Island | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total area total: 34.6 km²
Land: 34.6 km²
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

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 25%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 75%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia


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Population: 2,756 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
Adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

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

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

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)

Demographic profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA

Life expectancy at birth: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
Conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Government type: territory of Australia

Capital: Kingston (administrative center; Burnt Pine (commercial center)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

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

Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia
Head of government: Assembly President David Ernest BUFFETT (since NA May 1992)
Cabinet: Executive Council

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: elections last held 20 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) independents 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)
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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $NA

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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

Industries: tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY85/86)
Commodoties: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY85/86)
Commodoties: NA
Partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 7,000 kW
Production: 8 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 987 telephones (1983)
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: radio link service with Sydney

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs