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

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Background: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.


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Location: Oceania island in the North Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N 176 38 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 1.6 km²
Land: 1.6 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about three times the size of The Mall in Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 6.4 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall constant wind burning sun

Terrain: low-lying nearly level sandy coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s) terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 5%
Other: 95%

Irrigated land: 0 km² (1998)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Geography
Note: almost totally covered with grasses prostrate vines and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting roosting and foraging habitat for seabirds shorebirds and marine wildlife


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Population
Note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2001 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages

Religions

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate

Death rate

Net migration rate

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: no natural fresh water resources

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth

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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: none
Conventional short form: Howland Island

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: the laws of the US where applicable apply

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: the flag of the US is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: no economic activity

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

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Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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Industries

Industrial production growth rate

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Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

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Inflation rate consumer prices

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Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

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Current account balance

Exports

Imports

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

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: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left Lae New Guinea for Howland Island but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable (2000 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: none

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs