Norfolk Island
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Norfolk Island⌘K
Overview
- 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.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 36 sq km
- Water
- 0 sq km
- Total
- 36 sq km
- Climate
- subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
- Terrain
- volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
Land Use
- Other
- 62.8% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 12.2% (2023 est.)
- 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.)
- Location
- Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
- Coastline
- 32 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Mount Bates 319 m
- Irrigated land
- 0 sq km (2022)
- Map references
- Oceania
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 0 km
Maritime Claims
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Exclusive fishing zone
- 200 nm
- 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
- Natural resources
- fish
- Area comparative
- about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Geographic coordinates
- 29 02 S, 167 57 E
- Population distribution
- population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
People & Society
- 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
- Male
- 823
- Total
- 1,739 (2021)
- 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.) - Population growth rate
- 0.01% (2014 est.)
- Population distribution
- population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
Government
- 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
Capital
- Name
- Kingston
- 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
- 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
- Geographic coordinates
- 29 03 S, 167 58 E
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- see Australia
Constitution
- History
- previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
Country Name
- Etymology
- named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Edward HOWARD, the ninth Duke of Norfolk, in 1774
- Conventional long form
- Territory of Norfolk Island
- Conventional short form
- Norfolk Island
- Independence
- none (territory of Australia)
- Legal system
- English common law and the laws of Australia
- Government type
- administered as an overseas territory of Australia
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia
- Highest court(s)
- Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices)
- Subordinate courts
- Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal
- 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
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
- National holiday
- Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
- Dependency status
- administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development
- Political parties
- Norfolk Island Labor Party
Norfolk Liberals
Legislative Branch
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Number of seats
- 5 (directly elected)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Legislature name
- Norfolk Island Regional Council
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 5/28/2016
- Expected date of next election
- March 2021 (postponed)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 20%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- independent (5)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "God Save the King"
- History
- royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory
- Lyrics/music
- unknown
- 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
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Embassy
- none (territory of Australia)
- International organisations
- UPU
Economy
- Industries
- tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Exchange Rates
- 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.)
- 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
- Exports partners
- USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023)
- Imports partners
- Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
- Agricultural products
- Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
- Exports commodities
- pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021)
- Imports commodities
- refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 46.1% (2021 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
- Internet country code
- .nf
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 0
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Kingston
- Very small
- 1
- Total ports
- 1 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 1
- Airports
- 1 (2025)
Environment
- Climate
- subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Land Use
- Other
- 62.8% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 12.2% (2023 est.)
- 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.)
- Environmental issues
- inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem
Military & Security
- Military note
- defense is the responsibility of Australia
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Norfolk Island — vintage 2026-Q1: Norfolk Island factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/norfolk-island
Sources: CIA World Factbook