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.

Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 34.6 km²
Land: 34.6 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 32 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Arable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: 25%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 75% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)

Population: 2,179 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: -0.69% (1998 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: -0.69% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

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

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

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

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
Conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Government type: NA

Capital: Kingston (administrative center; Burnt Pine (commercial center)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and Australia are represented by Administrator A.J. MESSNER (since NA): ead of
Government: Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the Administrator
Elections: the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998)
Election results: David Earnest BUFFETT elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote_NA

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
Elections: last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998)
Election results: percent of vote_NA; seats_independents 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

International organization participation: none

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

Economy overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 28,000 in FY92/93. Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $NA

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries: tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 1,395 (1991 est.)
By occupation tourism: NA%
By occupation subsistenceagriculture: NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $4.6 million
Expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY92/93)

Fiscal year: 1 July_30 June

Exports: total value:$1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
Commodoties: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports: total value:$17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
Commodoties: NA
Partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1: 1.5281 (January 1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)

Electricity
Capacity: NA kW
Production: NA kWh
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)

Telephone system
Domestic: NA
International: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Railways: 0 km

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none