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

Internet users [time series]

percent of population: 46.1% (2021 est.)

Agricultural products [time series]

Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Economic overview [time series]

high-income Australian territorial economy; key tourism and re-exportation industries; small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs; former tax haven; increasing medical cannabis exporter; little transportation infrastructure

Exchange rates [time series]

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021) top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners [time series]

USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023)

Imports - partners [time series]

Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industries [time series]

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Climate [time series]

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Environmental issues [time series]

inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 25% (2023 est.) arable land: 0% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.) forest: 12.2% (2023 est.) other: 62.8% (2023 est.)

Area [time series]

total : 36 sq km land: 36 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate [time series]

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline [time series]

32 km

Elevation [time series]

highest point: Mount Bates 319 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Geography - note [time series]

most of the 32-km (20-mi) 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 located

Irrigated land [time series]

0 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 25% (2023 est.) arable land: 0% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.) forest: 12.2% (2023 est.) other: 62.8% (2023 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 contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Natural resources [time series]

fish

Population distribution [time series]

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Terrain [time series]

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Capital [time series]

name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April etymology: the name blends the words "king's" and "town;" the English king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was GEORGE III

Citizenship [time series]

see Australia

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Edward HOWARD, the ninth Duke of Norfolk, in 1774

Dependency status [time series]

administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, Regional Development

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024) head of government: Administrator George PLANT (since 1 June 2023) election/appointment process: 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 [time series]

description: three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white band meaning: green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol note: resembles Canada's flag in its use of only two colors and depiction of a symbol based on a native tree in the central white band; also resembles Nigeria's green-and-white tri-band flag

Government type [time series]

administered as an overseas territory of Australia note: the Norfolk Island Regional Council, which began operations 1 July 2016, is responsible for planning and managing a variety of public services, including those funded by the Government of Australia

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 several justices) 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 note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia

Legal system [time series]

English common law and the laws of Australia

Legislative branch [time series]

legislature name: Norfolk Island Regional Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 5 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 5/28/2016 parties elected and seats per party: independent (5) percentage of women in chamber: 20% expected date of next election: March 2021 (postponed)

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "Come Ye Blessed" lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT history: the local anthem, whose lyrics come from the Bible's Book of Matthew (25:34-36, 40), is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory

National coat of arms [time series]

Norfolk Island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, and in 1980, Queen Elizabeth II granted it a separate coat of arms (pictured); in the center is the island s symbol, the Norfolk Island Pine, with Britain s lion and Australia s kangaroo supporting the shield; the island s motto, Inasmuch, comes from a verse in the Bible s Gospel of Matthew

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 [time series]

Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500, but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions -- were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands. Some returned to the Pitcairn Islands over the next few years, but most settled permanently on Norfolk Island and recreated their previous land tenure and governance structures. Norfolk Island retained a great degree of local control until 1897, when it became a dependency of New South Wales. During World War II, Norfolk Island was an airbase and an important refueling stop in the South Pacific. In 1976, an Australian judge recommended Norfolk Island be incorporated fully into Australia, which Norfolk Islanders rejected. After an appeal to the UN, Australia granted limited self-government to Norfolk Island in 1979. With growing financial troubles during the 2000s, Australia abolished the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly in 2015, reduced Norfolk Island s autonomy in 2016, and suspended the local council in 2020. Most services are provided by a mix of the Australian Capital Territory and the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These moves were unpopular on Norfolk Island, which has sought to have its self-government restored and as of 2024, the Australian Government was working with Norfolk Island to establish a new local governing body.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Ethnic groups [time series]

Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.) note: respondents were able to identify up to two ancestries; percentages represent a proportion of all responses from people in Norfolk Island, including those who did not identify an ancestry; only top responses are shown

Languages [time series]

English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official, a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home

Nationality [time series]

noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Population [time series]

total: 1,739 (2021) male: 823 female: 916

Population distribution [time series]

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Population growth rate [time series]

0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)

Airports [time series]

1 (2025)

Ports [time series]

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Kingston