Norfolk Island
Territory of Norfolk Island
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Norfolk Island as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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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
19 fieldsReligions(2006 census)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
19 fieldsLegislative Assembly, 9 seats, elected 21 March 2007one dot, one seat
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 Australian Attorney-General's Department
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)
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); represented by the Australian governor general
- head of government:
- Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
- 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 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 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010)
- election results:
- seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
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.
18 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 (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephones - 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 and New Zealand;
- satellite earth station - 1
Television broadcast stations
1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/2008.