Norfolk Island

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.<br><br>In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the <em>Bounty </em>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.<br><br>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.

Land

36 sq km

Total

36 sq km

Water

0 sq km

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

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

32 km

Oceania

Highest point

Mount Bates 319 m

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

29 02 S, 167 57 E

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

0 sq km (2022)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

25% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.)

Forest

12.2% (2023 est.)

Other

62.8% (2023 est.)

No

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/pbvtm6XYd1iZbjky5

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2574988

Oceania

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

fish

population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Australia and New Zealand

volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

UTC+11:30

number of time zones

1

<p>Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2%</p> (2011 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

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.)

languages

English, Norfuk

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent language spoken at home

number of languages

2

Adjective

Norfolk Islander(s)

Noun

Norfolk Islander(s)

Female

916

Male

823

Total

1,739 (2021)

0.01% (2014 est.)

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.)

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

Geographic coordinates

29 03 S, 167 58 E

Name

Kingston

Time difference

UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see Australia

History

previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979

alternative spellings

NF, Territory of Norfolk Island, Teratri of Norf'k Ailen

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

local long form (eng)

Territory of Norfolk Island

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

Embassy

none (territory of Australia)

none (territory of Australia)

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)

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

Head of government

Administrator George PLANT (since 1 June 2023)

<strong>description:</strong> three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

The flag of Norfolk Island has three vertical bands of green, white, and green, with a large green native pine tree centered in the white band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/nf.svg

administered as an overseas territory of Australia

note

<strong>note: </strong>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

none (territory of Australia)

UPU

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

Note

<strong>note:</strong> appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia

Subordinate courts

Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal

English common law and the laws of Australia

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

March 2021 (postponed)

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Norfolk Island Regional Council

Most recent election date

5/28/2016

Number of seats

5 (directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

independent (5)

Percentage of women in chamber

20%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

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&rsquo;s symbol, the Norfolk Island Pine, with Britain&rsquo;s lion and Australia&rsquo;s kangaroo supporting the shield; the island&rsquo;s motto, &ldquo;Inasmuch,&rdquo; comes from a verse in the Bible&rsquo;s Gospel of Matthew

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Norfolk Island pine

Norfolk Island Labor Party <br>Norfolk Liberals 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

No

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

code

AUD

name

Australian dollar (AUD) [$]

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

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021)

note

top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)

.nf

Percent of population

46.1% (2021 est.)

+672

1 (2025)

Left

Key ports

Kingston

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

1

AUS

defense is the responsibility of Australia

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