Norfolk Island

Territory of Norfolk Island

NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)

Norfolk Island as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 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, UTC+11.5
Position29 02 S, 167 57 E
Area34.6 sq km
LocationOceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
2007

Every edition of Norfolk Island

Populationas each edition published it
2,114 people July 2007 est. · 2,533 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.006% 2007 est. · 1.69% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 34.6 sq km

permanent crops 0%other 100% (2005)arable land 0% in all
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 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 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)

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 fields
Population
2,114
(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 0.006% (2007 est.)

Religions(2001 census)

Anglican 34.9%Roman Catholic 11.7%Uniting Church in Australia 11.2%Seventh-Day Adventist 2.8%Australian Christian 2.4%Jehovah's Witness 0.9%other 2.7%unspecified 15.2%none 18.1% (2001 census)

Age structure

0-14 years:
20.2%
15-64 years:
63.9%
65 years and over:
15.9% (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:
NA
male:
NA
female:
NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
NA
male:
NA
female:
NA

Nationality

noun:
Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:
Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian

Languages

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

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November 2003)

19 fields

Legislative Assembly, 9 seats, elected 20 October 2004one dot, one seat

independents (note - no political parties) 9

Country name

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

Dependency status

self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Transport and Regional Services

Capital

name:
Kingston
geographic coordinates:
29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference:
UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government:
Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November 2003)
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:
  • none;
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

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; to serve three-year terms)

elections:
last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held by December 2007)
election results:
seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

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

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.

20 fields

Budget

Revenues
$4.6 millionExpenditures
$4.8 million (FY99/00)

Economy - 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.

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
10%
industry and services:
90%

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Exports

$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Imports

$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - partners

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Currency (code)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields
Internet users
96
(2007) · country code .nf

Telephones - main lines in use

2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum (2002)

Telephone system

general assessment:
adequate
domestic:
free local calls
international:
  • country code - 672;
  • undersea coaxial cable links with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada;
  • satellite earth station

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Internet users

700 (2002 est.)

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m
1

Airports

1 (2007)

Roadways

total:
80 km
paved:
53 km
unpaved:
27 km (2002)

Ports and terminals

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Military

1 field

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

1 field

Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 2007. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/2007.

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