Australia-Oceania :: Norfolk Island
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on May 12, 2010
Flag of Norfolk Island
Location of Norfolk Island
 
Map of Norfolk Island
Introduction ::Norfolk Island
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.
Geography ::Norfolk Island
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
29 02 S, 167 57 E
total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
32 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Current Weather
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
fish
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
NA
typhoons (especially May to July)
NA
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
People ::Norfolk Island
2,155 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
0.006% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
NA
NA
NA
NA
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
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noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
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)
English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian
NA
NA
Government ::Norfolk Island
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
NA
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)
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Acting 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; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
none
none
UPU
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
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 ::Norfolk Island
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.
$NA
978
country comparison to the world: 226
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
NA kWh
NA kWh
$1.5 million (FY91/92)
country comparison to the world: 217
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)
NA
$NA
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2894 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005)
Communications ::Norfolk Island
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2,500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 221
general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)
.nf
89 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Norfolk Island
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 217
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2008)
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Military ::Norfolk Island
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues ::Norfolk Island
none