Map of Pitcairn Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

top of page


Background: 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 page


Location: 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: Oceania

Area
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 51 km

Maritime claims

Climate: tropical hot humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation

Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts) fish

Land use

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)

Geography


top of page


Population: 54 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: -2.06% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

Languages: English (official) Pitcairnese Tahitian 18th century English dialect

Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: -2.06% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

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


top of page


Country name

Government type: NA

Capital: Adamstown

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (overseas 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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 6 elected by popular vote 1 appointed by the 6 elected members 2 appointed by the governor and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms)

Judicial branch: Island Court island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: SPC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 coat of arms is yellow green and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: The inhabitants of this tiny 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: wide variety of fruits and vegetables

Industries: postage stamps handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 12 able-bodied men (1997)
By occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

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: $N/A
Commodities: fruits vegetables curios stamps
Partners: NA

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: fuel oil machinery building materials flour sugar other foodstuffs
Partners: NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000) 1.8886 (1999) 1.8629 (1998) 1.5083 (1997) 1.4543 (1996) 1.5235 (1995)


top of page


Electricity access

Electricity production: NA kWh

Electricity consumption: NA kWh

Electricity exports: NA kWh

Electricity imports: NA kWh

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: none

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs