Norfolk Island
Territory of Norfolk Island
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Norfolk Island as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
17 fieldsLand useshare of 34.6 sq km
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
18 fieldsReligions(1996)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
19 fieldsLegislative Assembly, 9 seats, elected 29 November 2001one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Territory of Norfolk Island
- conventional short form:
- Norfolk Island
Dependency status
territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November 2003)
- head of government:
- Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
- 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 monarch is hereditary;
- 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 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December 2004)
- election results:
- Geoffrey Robert GARDNER 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 29 November 2001 (next to be held by December 2004)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
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
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands.
29 fieldsEconomy - overview
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
Agriculture - products
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports - commodities
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- adequate
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- country code - 672;
- undersea coaxial cable links with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada;
- satellite service planned for near future
Television broadcast stations
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/2004.