Norfolk Island

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Total area: 34.6 sq km
Land area: 34.6 sq km
Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

32 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

Subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

Volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural Resources

Fish

Land Use

Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 25%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 75%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: NA
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
International agreements: NA

PEOPLE

Population

2,209 (July 1996 est.)
2,756 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

-0.68% (1996 est.)
1.69% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

Death Rate

Net Migration Rate

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

Nationality

Noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
Adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic Divisions

Descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander

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)

Languages

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

Labor Force

GOVERNMENT

Names

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

Digraph

Type

Territory of Australia

Capital

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

Administrative Divisions

None (territory of Australia)

Independence

None (territory of Australia)

National Holiday

Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)

Constitution

Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal System

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch; the queen and Australia are represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992) who was appointed by the governor general of Australia
Head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terrence BROWN (since NA) was elected for not more than three years by the Legislative Assembly
Cabinet: Executive Council

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Legislative Assembly

Elections last held 20 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) independents 9

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Member of

None

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

ECONOMY

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 FY88/89. 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.

National Product

GDP NA

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Unemployment Rate

Budget

Revenues: $4.6 million (FY92/93)
Expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93), $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)

Exports

$1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
$1.7 million (f.o.b., FY85/86)

Commodities:

Postage stamps
Seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm
Small quantities of avocados

Partners:

Australia
Pacific Islands
NZ
Asia
Europe

Imports

$17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
$15.6 million (c.i.f., FY85/86)

Commodities:

Partners:

Australia
Pacific Islands
NZ
Asia
Europe

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 7,000 kW
Production: 8 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,160 kWh (1990)

Industries

Tourism

Agriculture

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

Economic Aid

None

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 80 km
Paved: 53 km
Unpaved: earth, coral 27 km

Ports

None; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 1
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1,087 telephones (1983 est.)

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: radio link service with Sydney

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1991 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 900 (1991 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of Australia

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 28 november 1997

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