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.
Area
Coastline
32 km
Elevation
Geographic coordinates
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
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Location
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
tropical cyclones (especially May to July)
Natural resources
Terrain
volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
Ethnic groups
Languages
Nationality
noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Population distribution
population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
Population growth rate
0.01% (2014 est.)
Population
- breakdown
- {"male":{"value":823,"unit":"people","formatted":"823","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":916,"unit":"people","formatted":"916","name":"Female Population"}}
- meta
- {"year":2021}
Religions
Climate
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Environmental issues
inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem
Land use
agricultural land: 25% (2023 est.) arable land: 0% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.) forest: 12.2% (2023 est.) other: 62.8% (2023 est.)
Capital
- name
- Kingston
- geo
- {"lat":-29.05,"lng":167.9667}
- timezone
- {"difference":"UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":"+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April"}
- meta
- {}
Citizenship
see Australia
Constitution
history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
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
Dependency status
administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development
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
Flag
description: three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white band meaning: green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol note: 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
Government type
administered as an overseas territory of Australia note: 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
Independence
International organization participation
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 note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia
Legal system
English common law and the laws of 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)
National anthem(s)
title: "Come Ye Blessed" lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT history: the local anthem, whose lyrics come from the Bible's Book of Matthew (25:34-36, 40), is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory
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 holiday
National symbol(s)
Norfolk Island pine
Political parties
Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Agricultural products
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
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
Imports - commodities
Imports - partners
Industries
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