ARCHIVE // NF // 2015

Norfolk Island

2015 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.nf
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: adequate | domestic: free local calls | international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Budget [time series]
revenues: $4.6 million | expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.1094 (2014) | 1.0358 (2013) | 0.97 (2012) | 0.9695 (2011) | 1.0902 (2010)
Exports [time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$NA
Imports [time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
NA
Industries [time series]
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Labor force [time series]
978 (2006) | country comparison to the world: 230
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 6% | industry: 14% | services: 80% (2006 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 36 sq km | land: 36 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 235
Area - comparative [time series]
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline [time series]
32 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Geography - note [time series]
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
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 25% | arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 25% | forest: 11.5% | other: 63.5% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
typhoons (especially May to July)
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Capital [time series]
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)
Citizenship [time series]
see Australia
Constitution [time series]
previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2015 (2015)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island | conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status [time series]
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general | head of government: Administrator Gary HARDGRAVE (since 1 July 2014) | cabinet: Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation [time series]
UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and NA justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court of Australia | judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 | subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal
Legal system [time series]
English common law and the laws of Australia
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Regional Council (structure to be determined); interim Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015 | elections: elections for the new Regional Council will occur in early 2016 | election results: interim Advisory Council seats - 5 (appointed) | note: following an adminstrative restructuring of local government, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 18 June 2015 to be replaced by an interim Norfolk Island Advisory Council effective 1 July 2015; the Advisory Council will consist of 5 members appointed by the Norfolk Island administrator based on nominations from the community; following elections in early 2016, the new Regional Council will commence operations on 1 July 2016
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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"
National holiday [time series]
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Norfolk Island pine
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY] | Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
none
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society
Ethnic groups [time series]
Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA | male: NA | female: NA
Languages [time series]
English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA | male: NA | female: NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Norfolk Islander(s) | adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Population [time series]
2,210 (July 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 231
Population growth rate [time series]
0.01% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Religions [time series]
Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 229
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Kingston
Roadways [time series]
total: 80 km | paved: 53 km | unpaved: 27 km (2008) | country comparison to the world: 217