Norfolk Island
Territory of Norfolk Island
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Norfolk Island as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 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 use
- agricultural land:
- 25%;
- arable land 0%;
- permanent crops 0%;
- permanent pasture 25%
- forest:
- 11.5%
- other:
- 63.5% (2011 est.)
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
13 fieldsEthnic groups(2011 est.)
Religions(2011 est.)
Languages
English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator Gary HARDGRAVE (since 1 July 2014)
22 fieldsCountry 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, Local Government, Arts and Sport
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)
Constitution
- previous 1913, 1957;
- latest effective 7 August 1979;
- amended many times, last in 2015 (2015)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
- head of government:
- Administrator Gary HARDGRAVE (since 1 July 2014)
- cabinet:
- Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members
- elections/appointments:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- governor general appointed by the monarch;
- administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral Regional Council (structure to be determined); interim Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015
- elections:
- elections for the new Regional Council will occur in early 2016
- election results:
- interim Advisory Council seats - 5 (appointed)
note: following an adminstrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 to be replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council will consist of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections in early 2016, the new Regional Council will commence operations on 1 July 2016
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and NA justices);
- note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court of Australia
- judge selection and term of office:
- justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia;
- justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
- subordinate courts:
- Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal
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; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria
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
Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn.
14 fieldsEconomy - overview
Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. 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 - 1.1094 (2014) · 1.0358 (2013) · 0.97 (2012) · 0.9695 (2011) · 1.0902 (2010)
Communications
5 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- adequate
- domestic:
- free local calls
- international:
- country code - 672;
- submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand;
- satellite earth station - 1
Broadcast media
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
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 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norfolk-island/2015.