World Factbook
Pitcairn Islands
Introduction
Background
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.
Geography
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234
Area - comparative
about three-tenths the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
51 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
Climate
tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Palwala Valley Point on Big Ridge 347 m
Natural resources
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish, note, manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 74.5% (2011 est.)
other: 25.5% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
less than 50 inhabitants on Pitcairn Island, most reside near the village of Adamstown
Natural hazards
occasional tropical cyclones (especially November to March), but generally only heavy tropical storms; landslides
Environment - current issues
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Geography - note
Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed offshore
People and Society
Population
54 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 238
Nationality
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups
other descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Languages
English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Religions
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Population growth rate
0% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Population distribution
less than 50 inhabitants on Pitcairn Island, most reside near the village of Adamstown
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population(2012)
rate of urbanization: NA
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
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
etymology: named after Midshipman Robert PITCAIRN who first sighted the island in 1767
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after John Adams (1767–1829), the last survivor of the Bounty mutineers who settled on Pitcairn Island in January 1790
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); Discovery Day (Pitcairn Day), 2 July (1767)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest drafted 10 February 2010, presented 17 February 2010, effective 4 March 2010
Legal system
local island by-laws
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Laura CLARK (since 25 January 2018)
head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Shawn CHRISTIAN (since 9 November 2016)
cabinet: none
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term; election last held on 9 November 2016 (next to be held not later than December 2019)
election results: Shawn CHRISTIAN reelected mayor and chairman of the Island Council; Island Council vote - NA
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 4 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 1 nominated by the elected Council members, 2 appointed by the governor, and 3 ex-officio members - the governor, deputy governor, and commissioner; elected members serve 1-year terms)
elections: last held in November 2017 (next to be held not later than December 2019)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 5 independent; composition - men 5, women 5, percent of women 50%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Pitcairn Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, 2 judges, and the Supreme Court chief justice, an ex-officio member); Pitcairn Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Pitcairn Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: all judges of both courts appointed by the governor of the Pitcairn Islands on the instructions of the Queen of England through the Secretary of State; all judges can serve until retirement, normally at age 75
subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders
none
International organization participation
SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a flowering twig of miro (a local plant)
National anthem
name: We From Pitcairn Island
lyrics/music: unknown/Frederick M. LEHMAN
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economy - overview
The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
NA
Agriculture - products
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens; fish
Industries
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Labor force
15 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 232
Labor force - by occupation
note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Budget
revenues: 746,000 (FY04/05)
expenditures: 1.028 million (FY04/05)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Exports
NA
Exports - commodities
honey, fruits, vegetables, curios, postage stamps
Imports
NA
Imports - commodities
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
(31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.416 (2017 est.)
1.4279 (2016 est.)
1.4279 (2015)
1.4279 (2014 est.)
1.2039 (2013 est.)
Communications
Telephone system
general assessment: satellite-based phone services; rural connectivity a challenge (2018)
domestic: local phone service with international connections via Internet (2018)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)
Broadcast media
satellite TV from Fiji-based Sky Pacific offering a wide range of international channels
Internet country code
.pn
Internet users
total: 54
percent of population: 100% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
Communications - note
satellite-based local phone service and broadband Internet connections available in all homes
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transportation
Roadways
total: 0 km
country comparison to the world: 215
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
