Statistical information Pitcairn Islands 1997

Pitcairn Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Outmigration primarily to New Zealand has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to about 50 today.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal: 47 km²
Land: 47 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claimsExclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land useArable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 54 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: -0.6% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
Adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: -0.6% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: NA male(s)/female
Under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
Total population: NA male(s)/female
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
Conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Government type: NA
Capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (non-resident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council)
Head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; island magistrate elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996)
Election results: Jay WARREN re-elected island magistrate; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats, 6 popularly elected, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms)
Elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1996 (next to be held NA December 1997)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: SPC
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent 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 coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 14 able-bodied men (1993)
By occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $729,884
Expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1994/95 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $NA
Commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios
Partners: NA
Imports: $NA
Commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Partners: NA
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4247 (January 1997),1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 24
Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
Domestic: NA
International: radiotelephone
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: none
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: none
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs