Norfolk Island
Territory of Norfolk Island
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Norfolk Island as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 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 36 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 and Society
20 fieldsReligions(2006 census)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
21 fieldsLegislative Assembly, 9 seats, elected 17 March 2010one 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 Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
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)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
- head of government:
- Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
- cabinet:
- Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- governor general appointed by the monarch;
- 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; members to serve three-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
- 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;
- green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island
note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band
National anthem
- name:
- "Come Ye Blessed"
- lyrics/music:
- New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a territory of Australia,
"God Save the Queen" is official (see Australia), however, the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair"
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.
15 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 - 1.0902 (2010) · 1.2822 (2009) · 1.2059 (2008) · 1.2137 (2007) · 1.3285 (2006)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone 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
Broadcast media
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite (2009)
Transportation
4 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Norfolk Island.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/2011.