Norfolk Island

(territory of Australia)

Geography

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

Map references: Oceania

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

Natural resources: fish

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 75%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
international agreements: NA

People

Population: 2,756 (July 1995 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 1.69% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

Infant mortality rate: NA

Life expectancy at birth: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

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: NA

Government

Names:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Digraph: NF

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 (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia
head of government: Assembly President David Ernest BUFFETT (since NA May 1992)
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: NA

Member of: none

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

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: NA%

National product per capita: $NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)

Exports: $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: $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY85/86)
commodities: NA
partners: Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe

External debt: $NA

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 - 1.3058 (January 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: 987 telephones (1983)
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: radio link service with Sydney

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
radios: 1,000 (1987 est.)

Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia