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Australia-Oceania :: Norfolk Island
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on May 25, 2011
Flag of Norfolk Island
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Norfolk Island
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Map of Norfolk Island
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Introduction ::Norfolk Island
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Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
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Geography ::Norfolk Island
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Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
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29 02 S, 167 57 E
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total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 233
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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32 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
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volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
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fish
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
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NA
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typhoons (especially May to July)
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NA
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most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated
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People ::Norfolk Island
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2,169 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
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0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
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0.006% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
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total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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NA
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noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
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descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
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Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
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English (official), Norfolk (a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian)
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NA
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NA
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NA
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Government ::Norfolk Island
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conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
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self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
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NA
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name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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none (territory of Australia)
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none (territory of Australia)
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Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
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Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
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English common law and the laws of Australia
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
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Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
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none
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none
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UPU
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none (territory of Australia)
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none (territory of Australia)
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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; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island
note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band
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name: "Come Ye Blessed"
lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a territory of Australia, "God Save the Queen" is official (see Australia), however, the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair"
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Economy ::Norfolk Island
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Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
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$NA
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978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 226
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agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90% (2000 est.)
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revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)
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Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
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tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
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NA kWh
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NA kWh
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$NA (FY91/92)
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postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
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$NA
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NA
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$NA
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Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
1.2137 (2007)
1.3285 (2006)
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Communications ::Norfolk Island
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2,532; note - a mix of analog (2,500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
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0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 220
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general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
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1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite (2009)
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.nf
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93 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 202
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Transportation ::Norfolk Island
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1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 227
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
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total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2008)
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Kingston
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Military ::Norfolk Island
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defense is the responsibility of Australia
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Transnational Issues ::Norfolk Island
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none
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