Norfolk Island

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Highways

total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: earth, coral 27 km

Ports

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Telecommunications

1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Affiliation

(commonwealth in political union with the US)

Note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Agriculture

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 7,000 kW production: 8 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Exports

$1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Imports

$15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86) commodities: NA partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

Overview

The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 34.6 sq km land area: 34.6 sq km comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

32 km

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to typhoons (especially May to July) international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 0% other: 75%

Location

Southwestern Oceania, 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)

Constitution

Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Digraph

NF

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator A. G. KERR (since NA April 1992), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia head of government: Assembly President David Ernest BUFFETT (since NA May 1992) cabinet: Executive Council

Flag

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

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court

Legislative Assembly

elections last held 1989 (held every three years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) percent of seats by party NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

none

Names

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

National holiday

Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Political parties and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

territory of Australia

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of Australia)

Ethnic divisions

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander

Labor force

NA

Languages

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

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

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

Population

2,710 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.7% (1994 est.)

Religions

Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)