Norfolk Island

Broadcast media

1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)

Internet country code

.nf

Internet users

total: 765 | percent of population: 34.6% (July 2016 est.)

Telephone system

general assessment: adequate | domestic: free local calls | international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.6 million | expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - 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.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.3442 (2016) | 1.3291 (2015) | 1.3291 (2014 est.) | 1.1094 (2013 est.) | 0.9695 (2012 est.)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

NA

Industries

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Labor force

978 (2006) | country comparison to the world: 230

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 6% | industry: 14% | services: 80% (2006 est.)

Area

total: 36 sq km | land: 36 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 236

Area - comparative

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

32 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Environment - current issues

inadequate solid waste management; freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; deficient electrical network

Geographic coordinates

29 02 S, 167 57 E

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 25% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 25% | forest: 11.5% | other: 63.5% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Natural resources

fish

Population - distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Terrain

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

name: Kingston | geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E | time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island | conventional short form: Norfolk Island | etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Mary HOWARD, Duchess of Norfolk, in 1774

Dependency status

self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts, and Sport

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) | head of government: Administrator Eric HUTCHINSON (since 1 April 2017) | 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

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

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; note - the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High 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

Legal system

English common law and the laws of Australia

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Norfolk Island Regional Council (5 seats; councillors directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); mayor elected annually by the councillors | elections: elections last held 28 May 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: seats by party - independent 5 | note: following an administrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 and replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council consisted of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections on 28 May 2016, the new Norfolk Island Regional Council commenced operations on 1 July 2016

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"

National holiday

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

National symbol(s)

Norfolk Island pine

Political parties and leaders

Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY] | Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Ethnic groups

Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA | male: NA | female: NA

Languages

English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk 23.7% - also known as Norfuk or Norf'k - which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA | male: NA | female: NA (2017 est.)

Nationality

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

Population

1,748 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 231

Population distribution

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Religions

Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 33.6%, Uniting Church in Australia 12.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 229

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Kingston

Roadways

total: 80 km | paved: 53 km | unpaved: 27 km (2008) | country comparison to the world: 217