Pitcairn Islands

Dependent territory of the U.K.

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Total area: 47 sq km
Land area: 47 sq km
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

51 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural Resources

Miro trees (used for handicrafts)
Fish

Land Use

Arable land: NA
Permanent crops: NA
Meadows and pastures: NA
Forest and woodland: NA
Other: NA

Irrigated Land

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

PEOPLE

Population

56 (July 1996 est.)
73 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

0% (1996 est.) 2.8% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death Rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net Migration Rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant Mortality Rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total Fertility Rate

NA children born/woman

Nationality

Noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
Adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic Divisions

Descendants of the Bounty mutineers

Religions

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Languages

English (official), Tahitian/English dialect

Labor Force

14 able-bodied men (1993)

By occupation:

No business community in the usual sense
Some public works
Subsistence farming and fishing

GOVERNMENT

Names

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

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

Adamstown

Administrative Divisions

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

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

Constitution

Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal System

Local island by-laws

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

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

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Island Council

Elections take place each December; election last held NA December 1997 (next to be held NA December 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents

Judicial Branch

Island Court

Political Parties and Leaders

None

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Member of

SPC

Flag

Blue with the flag of the U.K. 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

ECONOMY

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.

National Product

GDP NA

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Unemployment Rate

Budget

Revenues: $588,000 (1993/94 est.), $430,000 (1987 est.)
Expenditures: $583,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993/94 est.), $429,000, including capital expenditures of NA (1987 est.)

Exports

Commodities:

Fruits
Vegetables
Curios

Partners:

Imports

Commodities:

Fuel oil
Machinery
Building materials
Flour
Sugar
Other foodstuffs

Partners:

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 110 kW
Production: 300,000 kWh
Consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)

Industries

Postage stamps
Handicrafts

Agriculture

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

Economic Aid

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

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

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), 1.6750 (1990)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 6.4 km
Unpaved: earth 6.4 km

Ports

Bounty Bay

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

None

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: NA

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 12 november 1997

web hosting • domain names
web design • online games