World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
Download Publication
Australia-Oceania :: Norfolk Island
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on November 10, 2011
Flag of Norfolk Island
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Norfolk Island
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Norfolk Island
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
No Photos available for Norfolk Island
 
no photos available of Norfolk Island
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Geography ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
29 02 S, 167 57 E
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
32 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
typhoons (especially May to July)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
People and Society ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English (official), Norfolk (a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Protestant 45.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.5%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2,169 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.006% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Government ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English common law and the laws of Australia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 March 2010 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
UPU
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Norfolk Island pine
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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"
Back to Top
Economy ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 226
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90% (2000 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA kWh
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA kWh
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA (FY91/92)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
1.2137 (2007)
1.3285 (2006)
Back to Top
Communications ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2,532 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 221
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.nf
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
93 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 202
Back to Top
Transportation ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 228
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Kingston
Back to Top
Military ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Norfolk Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All