Pitcairn Islands

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

party line telephone service on the island domestic: NA international: radiotelephone

Telephones

24

Television broadcast stations

0

Televisions

NA Defense

Agriculture

wide variety of fruits and vegetables

Budget

revenues: $588,000 expenditures: $583,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993/94 est.)

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports

$NA commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios partners: NA

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP per capita

$NA

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

postage stamps, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

14 able-bodied men (1993) by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total area: 47 sq km land area: 47 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

51 km

Environment

current issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement) natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March) international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

25 04 S, 130 06 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural resources

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish

Terrain

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Adamstown

Constitution

Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Data code

PC

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (non-resident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA); the island magistrate is elected every three years

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)

International organization participation

SPC

Island Council

elections take place each December; election last held NA December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents

Judicial branch

Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years

Legal system

local island by-laws

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

National holiday

Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)

Other political or pressure groups

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Type of government

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic divisions

descendants of the Bounty mutineers

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Tahitian/English dialect

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

56 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0% (1996 est.)

Religions

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Airports

none

Highways

total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Bounty Bay

Railways

0 km