Norfolk Island




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (territory of Australia)
                                 Geography


Location:
     Southwestern Oceania, 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific
     Ocean
Map references:
     Oceania
Area:
total area:
     34.6 sq km
land area:
     34.6 sq km
comparative area:
     about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     32 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
     volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Natural resources:
     fish
Land use:
arable land:
     0%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     25%
forest and woodland:
     0%
other:
     75%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA
natural hazards:
     subject to typhoons (especially May to July)




international agreements:
     NA


                                  People


Population:
     2,710 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     1.7% (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:
     Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions:
     descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander
Religions:
     Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%,
     Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4%
     (1986)
Languages:
     English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and
     ancient Tahitian
Literacy:
total population:
     NA%
male:
     NA%
female:
     NA%
Labor force:
     NA


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     NF
Type:
     territory of Australia
Capital:
     Kingston (administrative center);  Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions:
     none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
     none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
     Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Constitution:
     Norfolk Island Act of 1979




Legal system:
     wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island
     Act of 1979; Supreme Court
Suffrage:
     18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
     Administrator A. G. KERR (since NA April 1992), who is appointed by
     the Governor General of Australia
head of government:
     Assembly President David Ernest BUFFETT (since NA May 1992)
cabinet:
     Executive Council
Legislative branch:
     unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
     elections last held 1989 (held every three years); results - percent
     of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) percent of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
     Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
     NA
Member of:
     none
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
     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


Overview:
     The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of
     prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The
     number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached
     29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a
     favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to
     become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
National product:
     GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
     NA%
National product per capita:
     $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     NA%
Unemployment rate:
     NA%




Budget:
revenues:
     $NA
expenditures:
     $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)
Exports:
     $1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86)
commodities:
     postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
     small quantities of avocados
partners:
     Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports:
     $15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86)
commodities:
     NA
partners:
     Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
External debt:
     $NA
Industrial production:
     growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
     7,000 kW
production:
     8 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     3,160 kWh (1990)
Industries:
     tourism
Agriculture:
     Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
     fruit, cattle, poultry
Economic aid:
     none
Currency:
     1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704
     (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
     1 July - 30 June


                              Communications


Highways:
total:
     80 km
paved:
     53 km
unpaved:
     earth, coral 27 km
Ports:
     none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade




Airports:
total:
     1
usable:
     1
with permanent-surface runways:
     1
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     1
Telecommunications:
     1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987
     telephones (1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of Australia