ARCHIVE // PN // 1999
Pitcairn Islands
1999 Edition — territory
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
party line telephone service on the island domestic: NA international: radiotelephone
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
24
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
0 (1997)
Televisions
[time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture--products)
[time series]
wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $729,884 expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Debt - external
(Debt--external)
[time series]
$NA
Economic aid
(Economic aid--recipient)
[time series]
$NA
Economic overview
(Economy--overview)
[time series]
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
Electricity - consumption
(Electricity--consumption)
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - exports
(Electricity--exports)
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - imports
(Electricity--imports)
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production
(Electricity--production)
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
(Electricity--production by source)
[time series]
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
[time series]
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Exports
[time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities
(Exports--commodities)
[time series]
fruits, vegetables, curios
Exports - partners
(Exports--partners)
[time series]
NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 April--31 March
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity--$NA
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP--composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP--per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity?$NA
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP--real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities
(Imports--commodities)
[time series]
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Imports - partners
(Imports--partners)
[time series]
NA
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
postage stamps, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
NA%
Labor force
[time series]
14 able-bodied men (1993)
Labor force - by occupation
(Labor force--by occupation)
[time series]
no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate
[time series]
NA%
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
(Area--comparative)
[time series]
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
tropical, hot, humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Coastline
[time series]
51 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Environment - current issues
(Environment--current issues)
[time series]
deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
International environmental agreements
(Environment--international agreements)
[time series]
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
25 04 S, 130 06 W
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Location
[time series]
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Map references
[time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims
[time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
typhoons (especially November to March)
Natural resources
[time series]
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Terrain
[time series]
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital
[time series]
Adamstown
Constitution
[time series]
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code
[time series]
PC
Dependency status
[time series]
overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (nonresident) 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) cabinet: NA elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island magistrate elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996) election results: Jay WARREN reelected island magistrate; percent of vote--NA
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
blue with the flag of the UK 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
Government type
[time series]
NA
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
[time series]
SPC
Judicial branch
[time series]
Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years
Legal system
[time series]
local island by-laws
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral Island Council (10 seats--6 elected by popular vote, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and 1 seat for the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms) elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1998 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--all independents
National holiday
[time series]
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
none
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
NA
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Military
Military - note
(Military--note)
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
[time series]
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
[time series]
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
[time series]
descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
English (official), Pitcairnese, Tahitian, 18th century English dialect
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Net migration rate
[time series]
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
[time series]
49 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
-2.04% (1999 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Total fertility rate
[time series]
NA children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
(Disputes--international)
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
none
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Merchant marine
[time series]
none
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Bounty Bay
Railways
[time series]
0 km