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

top of page


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.


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 36 km²
Land: 36 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 234
Comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200
Note: nm

Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Elevation
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 25% (2011 est.)
Forest: 11.5% (2011 est.)
Other: 63.5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Geography
Note: most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated


top of page


Population
Distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston: 1748 (2016 est.)
Rank: 232
Growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 191

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

Ethnic groups: Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.)
Note: respondents were able to identify up to two ancestries; percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in Norfolk Island, including those who did not identify an ancestry; only top responses are shown

Languages: English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (also known as Norfuk or Norf'k, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.)
Note: data represent language spoken at home

Religions: Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Rank: 191

Birth rate

Death rate

Net migration rate

Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: inadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem

Air pollutants

Sex ratio: NA (2018) (2017 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate
Note: NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures
Note: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
Conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774

Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

Capital
Name: Kingston
Geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
Time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time): etymology: the name is a blending of the words 'king's' and 'town'; the British king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was George III

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Constitution
History: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
Amendments: amended many times, last in 2015

Legal system: English common law and the laws of Australia

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see Australia

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
Head of government: Administrator Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members
Electionsappointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Norfolk Island Regional Council (5 seats; councillors directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); mayor elected annually by the councillors
Elections: elections last held 28 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
Election results: seats by party - independent 5; composition - men 4, women 1, percent of women 20%
Note: following an administrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 and replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council consisted of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections on 28 May 2016, the new Norfolk Island Regional Council commenced operations on 1 July 2016

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroners Court and the Employment Tribunal

Political parties and leaders: Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY]Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]

International organization participation: UPU

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; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island
Note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria

National symbols: Norfolk Island pine

National anthem
Name: Come Ye Blessed
Lyricsmusic: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
Note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as 'The Pitcairn Anthem;' the island does not recognize 'Advance Australia Fair' (which other Australian territories use); instead 'God Save the Queen' is official (see United Kingdom)

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real: NA

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

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, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force: 978 (2006)
Rank: 229
By occupation agriculture: 6%
By occupation industry: 14%
By occupation services: 80% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 4.6 million (FY99/00)
Expenditures: 4.8 million (FY99/00)

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: NA
Commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Imports: $NA
Commodities: NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)

Internet
Country code: .nf
Users total: 765
Users percent of population: 34.6% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 228

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: 1 (2013)
Rank: 231
With paved runways total: 1 (2019)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 80 km (2008)
Paved: 53 km (2008)
Unpaved: 27 km (2008)
Rank: 215

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Kingston


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs