Pitcairn Islands

parliamentary democracy

name: Adamstown geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after John ADAMS (1767 1829), the last survivor of the Bounty mutineers who settled on Pitcairn Island in 1790

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Iona THOMAS (since 9 August 2022) head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Shawn CHRISTIAN (since 5 November 2025) cabinet: none election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term most recent election date: 5 November 2025 election results: Shawn CHRISTIAN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council expected date of next election: November 2028

legislature name: Island Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 10 (directly elected and appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 2 years note: the councilors and the deputy mayor serve 2-year terms, the mayor serves a 3-year term, and the administrator is appointed by the governor for an indefinite term most recent election date: 6 November 2019 parties elected and seats per party: independent (5) percentage of women in chamber: 60% expected date of next election: N/A note: the Council includes 5 councilors, the mayor, and the deputy mayor (who are elected by popular vote) and 3 ex officio non-voting members -- the administrator, who serves as both the head of government and the representative of the governor of Pitcairn Islands, the governor, and the deputy governor

highest court(s): Pitcairn Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, 2 judges, and the Supreme Court chief justice, an ex-officio member); Pitcairn Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 judges) judge selection and term of office: all judges of both courts appointed by the governor of the Pitcairn Islands on the instructions of the British monarch through the Secretary of State; all judges can serve until retirement, normally at age 75 subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court note: appeals beyond the Pitcairn Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

history: several previous; latest drafted 10 February 2010, presented 17 February 2010, effective 4 March 2010

SPC, UPU

defense is the responsibility of the UK

postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens; fish

total: 50 (2025 est.)

0% (2014 est.)

descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Seventh Day Adventist 100%

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

No traditional public cellular network. Satellite-based internet (Starlink) and VoIP apps (WhatsApp, Viber) are available.

percent of population: 96.2% (2021 est.)