Pitcairn Islands

Airports

none

Highways

6.4 km dirt roads

Ports

Bounty Bay

Railroads

none

Telecommunications

24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products

Aid

none

Budget

revenues $430,440; expenditures $429,983, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY87 est.)

Currency

New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Electricity

110 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced, 4,410 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6581 (January 1990), 1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6866 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)

Exports

$NA; commodities--fruits, vegetables, curios; partners--NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

GNP

NA

Imports

$NA; commodities--fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs; partners--NA

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

postage stamp sales, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Overview

The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Coastline

51 km

Comparative area

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Environment

subject to typhoons (especially November to March)

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other

Natural resources

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish

Note

located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Peru and New Zealand

Terrain

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Territorial sea

3 nm

Total area

47 km2; land area: 47 km2

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Adamstown

Communists

none

Constitution

Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, island magistrate

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Island Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Governor and UK High Commissioner to New Zealand Robin A. C. BYATT (since NA 1988); Head of Government--Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Brian YOUNG (since NA 1985)

Legal system

local island by-laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Island Council

Long-form name

Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands

National holiday

Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June), 10 June 1989

Other political or pressure groups

NA

Political parties and leaders

NA

Suffrage

universal at age 18 with three years residency Island Council--last held NA (next to be held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

descendants of Bounty mutineers

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

NA; no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Language

English (official); also a Tahitian/English dialect

Life expectancy at birth

NA years male, NA years female (1990)

Literacy

NA%, but probably high

Nationality

noun--Pitcairn Islander(s); adjective--Pitcairn Islander

Net migration rate

NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

NA

Population

56 (July 1990), growth rate 0.0% (1990)

Religion

100% Seventh-Day Adventist

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman (1990)