Norfolk Island

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Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 36 sq km
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 235

Area - comparative

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

32 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200nm

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.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 25% (2011 est.)
forest: 11.5% (2011 est.)
other: 63.5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues

inadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem

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

People and Society

Population

1,748 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232

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 33.6%, Uniting Church in Australia 12.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Population distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Sex ratio

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA (2018)
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA (2017 est.)
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Government

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

Dependency status

self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts, and Sport

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)

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 (2017)

Legal system

English common law and the laws of Australia

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
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: 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 Coroner's 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)

Diplomatic representation 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 symbol(s)

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 Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy - overview

Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

NA

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Labor force

978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 229

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 6%
industry: 14%
services: 80% (2006 est.)

Budget

revenues: 4.6 million (FY99/00)
expenditures: 4.8 million (FY99/00)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Exports

NA

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

NA

Debt - external

NA

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3291 (2016 est.)
1.3291 (2015)
1.3291 (2014 est.)
1.1094 (2013 est.)

Communications

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.nf

Internet users

total: 765
percent of population: 34.6% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225

Military and Security

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transportation

Airports

1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 232

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Roadways

total: 80 km (2008)
paved: 53 km (2008)
unpaved: 27 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 209

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Kingston

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

none

Flag of Norfolk Island

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