Map of Norfolk Island | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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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
Comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

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

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 25% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 25% (2018 est.)
Forest: 11.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 63.5% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 km² (2022)

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


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Population
Distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston: 1,748 (2016 est.)
Growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2%

Languages: English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official; 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
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

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

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: NA

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

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
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)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
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 2020

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: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)
Head of government: Administrator Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017)
Cabinet: Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members
Elections/appointments: 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: last held on 28 May 2016 (next originally scheduled for 13 March 2021 was postponed); note - on 6 December 2021, the councillors of the Norfolk Island Regional Council were formally dismissed by the assistant minister and appointed as Administrator of the Council until 2024
Election results: seats by party - independent 5; composition - men 4, women 1, percent of women 20%

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 Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)
From the us embassy: 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"
Lyrics/music: 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 King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National heritage


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Economy overview: high-income Australian territorial economy; key tourism and re-exportation industries; small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs; former tax haven; increasing medical cannabis exporter; little transportation infrastructure

Real gdp purchasing power parity: 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)

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
Partners: Philippines 29%, Singapore 21%, India 14%, Belgium 7%, Australia 5%, Canada 5% (2019)
Commodities: pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup, cleaning products, scrap aluminum (2021)

Imports: $NA
Partners: New Zealand 23%, Australia 19%, Philippines 19%, Singapore 14%, Fiji 11% (2019)
Commodities: clothing and apparel, chemical analysis instruments, refined petroleum, cars, kitchen machinery (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: NA

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

Internet
Country code: .nf
Users total: 806 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 46.1% (2021 est.)

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 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

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

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Kingston


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Disputes international: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs