| Geography | Demography | Government | Economy | Communications |
Location: South Pacific Ocean. Situated between New Zealand and New Caledonia on the Norfolk Rise.
Coordinates: 29° 01' S, 167° 56' E.
Total Land Area: 34.6 km
Total Coastline: 32km
Maritime Claims:
Exclusive Fishing Zone: 200 nm
Oil and Gas fields surveyed:
Highest Point: Mt Bates 320m
Roads: 85 km of roads of which 90% are sealed
Terrain: Volcanic, mostly rolling hills, although has large areas of flat undulating grassland. (the Airport is on 115.43 hectares of flat land).
Native trees: The Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Philip Island Hibiscus
Exports: Norfolk Island Pine seeds, Kentia Palms seeds, Norfolk Island stamps
Climate: subtropical, mild with little temperature variance. Average mean lowest temp is _; average mean highest temp is _.
Can be subject to cyclones during January to May.
Population:
See Census 1996; Census 2001; Census 2006
Life expectancy: Many Norfolk people live to more than 90 years although the average life expectancy is 78
Nationality: Norfolk Islanders
Immigration:
Education: Norfolk Island Central School, approx. 335 students K - 12. Norfolk Island contracts the NSW Department of Education & Training to provide the curriculum and teachers to the Norfolk Island Administration.
Ethnic Groups/Nationalities: Norfolk Islanders (descendants of the Bounty Mutineers), Australians, New Zealanders plus more than 27 other nationalities in small numbers
Religions: Church of England Roman Catholic, Uniting Church, Seventh Day Adventists, Baha'i, Jehovah's Witness.
Languages: English (official language), Norfolk
Country Name: Norfolk Island. (abbreviation NLK)
Data Code: .nf
National capital: Kingston (Government offices).
Norfolk Island Specific Holidays: Bounty Day, (anniversary of the arrival of the Pitcairn Island people) 8th June; Foundation Day 6th March, Show day - second Monday in October
Other Holidays: Thanksgiving Day (last Wednesday November) Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Easter Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day 25th April, Show Day (2nd Monday October) New Year's Day, (1st January ) Queen,s Birthday (June) Australia Day (January) See: Holidays
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act 1979 (Commonwealth Act)
Legal System:
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch:
Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Current Chief Minister: Hon
Andre Nobbs MLA
Current Speaker of the Legislature: Hon
Lisle Snell MLA
Executive Council: Composed of five Members elected by the Legislative
Assembly.
Legislative Assembly: Unicameral (9 seats; members elected by electors who have
maximum of nine equal votes each, but a maximum of two votes can be given to
any one candidate. See Legislative
Assembly Act 1979
The Norfolk Island Act 1979 has schedules which define the powers of the Norfolk Island legislature:
Schedule 2 matters are the sole responsibility of Norfolk Island.
Schedule 3 matters are shared functions with the Commonwealth
of Australia. (See Norfolk Island Act
1979).
Elections: Legislative Assembly: maximum term three years.
Judicial Branch: Norfolk Island Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Border: Norfolk Island Immigration Act 1980.
Customs: see Customs
Political parties: None
Flag description: Three bands. Outside bands of green and a middle of white with large green Norfolk Pine in centre.
Economy – overview:
The primary industry is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors had reached 40,000 in Year 2001. Norfolk Island has five hotels, one large guest lodge plus many apartments or motels. See Tourism website
Tourism, directly and indirectly, almost totally funds the Island's needs. Additional monies are contributed by the Commonwealth of Australia towards the management of the National Park, the salary and operations expenses of the Administrator's Office, a local meteorological office and towards a percentage of the costs of maintaining the Kingston and Arthur's Vale Historical Area which contains many of the remains of the British Penal Colony buildings.
Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become more self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry and horticulture.
Industry: Light industrial: ready mixed concrete, rock crushing, light engineering
Inflation rate: -
Labour force: 1,395 (1991 est.)
By occupation: tourism 90%, agriculture 10%
Unemployment rate: Nil
Budget:
Revenues: $50 million
Expenditures:
Electricity – capacity: six million W
Electricity – production: Diesel generation. 3 Caterpillar, 3 GMs @ 1MW each. Small solar power units.
Electricity – consumption per capita: NA kWh
Voltage 240v
Agriculture – products: Norfolk Island Pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry, Coffee beans
Exports:
Total value: $1.5 million 99/00
Commodities: Postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island Pine and Kentia
palm.
Partners: Australia, NZ, other Pacific island countries, Asia, Europe
Debt – external: $M3 interest free loan from Commonwealth of Australia for the Cascade Cliff Safety Project.
Economic Aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange Rates: Australian dollars
Fiscal Year: 1 July - 30 June
Telephones: 2400 lines
Telephone System: Ericssons AXE switch upgraded to Year 2000 and satellite capability standards at a cost of A$M1 end 1999
Domestic: Free local calls
International: Satellite earth station controlled by Reach. Country code 672 3
Mobiles: System installed and commissioned April 2007
Internet: Yes
Connections: est. 700
Legislation: Telecommunications Act 1992
Radio broadcast stations: AM (one) 1566 kHz, FM (five), short-wave 0 Radio Station
Radios: 2,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 local broadcast station 4 Australian channels re-transmitted. Some Private homes have satellite earth stations for other services Radio Norfolk
Televisions: 1,500 (1995 est.)
Ham radios: 2
Railways: 0 km
Roads:
Total: 80km
Paved: 75 km
Unpaved: 5 km
Ports and harbours: none; ships unloaded by launch and lighters. Unloading jetties at Kingston (south) and Cascade (north).
Merchant marine: none
Fishing Boats: approx 80(?) average size 18'
Airports- with paved runways: Norfolk Island
Airport
total: 1 - with two runways. 04/22 and 11/29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military - note: defence is the responsibility of Australia
Other Transnational Issues: