Norfolk Island
Territory of Norfolk Island
- Background
- 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.In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the Bounty 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.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.
- Location
- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
- Geographic coordinates
- 29 02 S, 167 57 E
- Map references
- Oceania
- Area
- total: 36 sq km
land: 36 sq km
water: 0 sq km - Area - comparative
- about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Land boundaries
- total: 0 km
- Coastline
- 32 km
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm - Climate
- subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
- Terrain
- volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
- Elevation
- highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m - Natural resources
- fish
- Land use
- 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.) - Irrigated land
- 0 sq km (2022)
- Population distribution
- population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
- Natural hazards
- tropical cyclones (especially May to July)
- Geography - note
- 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
- Population
- total: 1,739 (2021)
male: 823
female: 916 - Nationality
- noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s) - Ethnic groups
- Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.)
- Languages
- 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.)
- Religions
- 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.)
- Population growth rate
- 0.01% (2014 est.)
- Population distribution
- population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
- Environmental issues
- inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem
- Climate
- subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
- Land use
- 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.)
- Country name
- 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 - Government type
- administered as an overseas territory of Australia
- Dependency status
- administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development
- Capital
- name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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 - Legal system
- English common law and the laws of Australia
- Constitution
- history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
- Citizenship
- see Australia
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Executive branch
- 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)
head of government: Administrator George PLANT (since 1 June 2023)
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 - Legislative branch
- legislature name: Norfolk Island Regional Council
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 5 (directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 5/28/2016
parties elected and seats per party: independent (5)
percentage of women in chamber: 20%
expected date of next election: March 2021 (postponed) - Judicial branch
- 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
subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal - Political parties
- Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (territory of Australia)
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: none (territory of Australia)
- International organization participation
- UPU
- Independence
- none (territory of Australia)
- National holiday
- Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
- Flag
- description: three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white bandmeaning: green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol
- National symbol(s)
- Norfolk Island pine
- National coat of arms
- 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’s symbol, the Norfolk Island Pine, with Britain’s lion and Australia’s kangaroo supporting the shield; the island’s motto, “Inasmuch,” comes from a verse in the Bible’s Gospel of Matthew
- National anthem(s)
- title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory
- Economic overview
- 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
- Agricultural products
- Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
- Industries
- tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
- Exports - partners
- USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023)
- Exports - commodities
- pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021)
- Imports - partners
- Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023)
- Exchange rates
- Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
- Internet country code
- .nf
- Internet users
- percent of population: 46.1% (2021 est.)
- Airports
- 1 (2025)
- Ports
- total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Kingston
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of Australia