Norfolk Island

Territory of Norfolk Island

NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)

Norfolk Island as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 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)
Position29 02 S, 167 57 E
Area34.6 sq km
LocationOceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Populationas each edition published it
2,194 people July 1997 est. · 2,533 in 1990
Population growth% a year
-0.68% 1997 est. · 1.69% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 34.6 sq km

permanent pastures 25%other 75% (1993 est.)arable land: NA% · permanent crops : NA% · forests and woodland: NA%
Area
34.6sq km
land: 34.6 sq kmwater : 0 sq kmabout 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
32km
land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
Highest point
319m
Mount Bateslowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Climate

subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Natural hazards

typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - international agreements

party to:
NA
signed, but not ratified :
NA

People

14 fields
Population
2,194
(July 1997 est.)growth rate: -0.68% (1997 est.)

Religions(1986)

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

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio

at birth:
NA male(s)/female
under 15 years:
NA male(s)/female
15-64 years:
NA male(s)/female
65 years and over:
NA male(s)/female
total population :
NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

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

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995)

19 fields

Legislative Assembly, 9 seats, elected NA May 1995one dot, one seat

independents 9

Country name

conventional long form:
Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:
Norfolk Island

Dependency status

territory of Australia

National 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

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 Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992)
head of government:
Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995)
cabinet:
Executive Council is made up of executive members of the Legislative Assembly
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

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

Economy

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

22 fields
Labor force
1,395
(1991 est.)by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Budget

Revenues
$4.6 millionExpenditures
$4.8 million
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

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 29,000 in FY88/89. 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture:
NA%
industry :
NA%
services:
NA%

Industries

tourism

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value :
$1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
commodities:
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)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2835 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
1,087
(1983 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:
NA
international:
radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

2,000 (1991 est.)

Televisions

900 (1991 est.)

Transportation

6 fields

Networkskm

Highways
80Railways
0
Highways: paved: 53 km · unpaved: 27 km

Highways

total:
80 km
paved:
53 km
unpaved:
27 km

Ports and harbors

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Airports

1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

none NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/1997.