Norfolk Island

territory of AustraliaIndependence none (territory of Australia)

Norfolk Island as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Area34.6 km2
1990

Every edition of Norfolk Island

Populationas each edition published it
2,533 people July 1990 · 1,739 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 1.69% in 1993

Geography

14 fields

Land useshare of 34.6 km2

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 25%forest and woodland 0%other 75%arable land 0% in all
Total area
34.6km2
land area: 34.6 km2Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
32km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 3 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Climate

subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Environment

subject to typhoons (especially May to July)

Note

located 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

People

14 fields
Population
2,533
(July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate

NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

NA years male, NA years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Norfolk Islander(s); adjective--Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic divisions

descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently, Australian and New Zealand settlers

Religion

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Uniting Church in Australia, and Seventh-Day Adventist

Language

English (official) and Norfolk--a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Literacy

NA%, but probably high

Government

Territory of Australia

15 fields

Long-form name

Territory of Norfolk Island

Type

territory of Australia

Capital

Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

Constitution

Norfolk Island Act of 1957

National holiday

Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator H. B. MACDONALD (since NA 1989), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia;
  • Head of Government--Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terence BROWN (since NA)

Suffrage

  • universal at age 18 Legislative Assembly--last held NA (next to be held NA);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(9 total) percent of seats by party NA

Diplomatic representation

none (territory of Australia)

Flag

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

The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands.

16 fields

Budget

Revenues
$3.4 millionExpenditures
$3.4 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

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 almost 30,000 in 1986. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GNP

NA

Exports

  • $1.8 million (f.o.b., FY85);
  • commodities--postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia Palm, small quantities of avocados;
  • partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports

  • $16.3 million (c.i.f., FY85);
  • commodities--NA;
  • partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,210 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

tourism

Agriculture

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

Aid

none

Currency

Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June

Communications

4 fields

Highways

80 km of roads, including 53 km of sealed roads; remainder are earth formed or coral surfaced

Ports

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m (Australian owned)

Telecommunications

  • 1,500 radio receivers (1982);
  • radio link service with Sydney;
  • 987 telephones (1983);
  • stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/1990.

How to cite 1991 edition →