| Introduction ::Norfolk Island |
Background:
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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.
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| Geography ::Norfolk Island |
Location:
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Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
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Geographic coordinates:
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29 02 S, 167 57 E
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Map references:
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Oceania
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Area:
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total: 36 sq km
country comparison to the world: 234
land:
36 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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32 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
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Climate:
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Current Weather
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Bates 319 m
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Natural resources:
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fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons (especially May to July)
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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2,155 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years:
63.9%
65 years and over:
15.9% (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.006% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
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Birth rate:
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NA
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Death rate:
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NA
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Net migration rate:
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NA
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Sex ratio:
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NA
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA
male:
NA
female:
NA
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA
male:
NA
female:
NA
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Total fertility rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:
Norfolk Islander(s)
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Ethnic groups:
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descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian
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Religions:
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Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)
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Languages:
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English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian
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Literacy:
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NA
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Education expenditures:
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NA
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| Government ::Norfolk Island |
Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:
Norfolk Island
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Dependency status:
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self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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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)
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of Australia)
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Independence:
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none (territory of Australia)
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National holiday:
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Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
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Constitution:
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Norfolk Island Act of 1979 as amended in 2005
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Legal system:
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based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government:
Acting 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  )
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
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Legislative branch:
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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 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010)
election results:
seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
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Political parties and leaders:
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none
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none
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International organization participation:
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UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of Australia)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of Australia)
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$NA
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Labor force:
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978
country comparison to the world: 226
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 10%
industry and services:
90%
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Budget:
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revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures:
$4.8 million (FY99/00)
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Agriculture - products:
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Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
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Industries:
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tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh
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Exports:
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$1.5 million (FY91/92)
country comparison to the world: 217
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Exports - commodities:
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postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
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Imports:
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$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)
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Imports - commodities:
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NA
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Debt - external:
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2894 (2009), 1.2059 (2008), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005)
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| Communications ::Norfolk Island |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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2,532; note - a mix of analog (2,500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)
country comparison to the world: 220
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 221
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: adequate
domestic:
free local calls
international:
country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)
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Internet country code:
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.nf
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Internet hosts:
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89 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
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| Transportation ::Norfolk Island |
Airports:
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1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 228
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 80 km
country comparison to the world: 215
paved:
53 km
unpaved:
27 km (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
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| Military ::Norfolk Island |
Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Australia
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| Transnational Issues ::Norfolk Island |
Disputes - international:
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none
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