World · permanent entity record · NF

Norfolk Island

Thirty-second orientation

Norfolk Island at a glance

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18
Population: total: 1,739 (2021) male: 823 female: 916; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18
Area: total : 36 sq km land: 36 sq km water: 0 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18
Nationality / demonym: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18
Government: 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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18
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.) note: data represent language spoken at home; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18

Claims are attributed · classifications are dated

Claims and contested status

Maintained classification

Dependency or area of special sovereignty

Australia

U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.

Maintained profile

Classification: Dependency or area of special sovereignty; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
Sovereignty or administration: Australia; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31
Administrative center: Kingston; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data

Final CIA World Factbook profile

This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.

CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated 2025-12-18 · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b

Introduction1 fields

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.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Geography17 fields

Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Map references: Oceania; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Area: total : 36 sq km land: 36 sq km water: 0 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Land boundaries: total: 0 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Coastline: 32 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Terrain: volcanic island with mostly rolling plains; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Elevation: highest point: Mount Bates 319 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Natural resources: fish; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (especially May to July); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

People and Society7 fields

Population: total: 1,739 (2021) male: 823 female: 916; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Ethnic groups: Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.) note: 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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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.) note: data represent language spoken at home; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Environment3 fields

Environmental issues: inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Government21 fields

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Dependency status: administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Legal system: English common law and the laws of Australia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Constitution: history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Citizenship: see Australia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Political parties: Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
International organization participation: UPU; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Independence: none (territory of Australia); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
National holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
National symbol(s): Norfolk Island pine; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Economy8 fields

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; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Agricultural products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Industries: tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Exports - partners: USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Exports - commodities: pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021) top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Imports - partners: Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Communications3 fields

Broadcast media: 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Internet country code: .nf; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 46.1% (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Transportation2 fields

Airports: 1 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source
Ports: total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Kingston; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

Military and Security1 fields

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2025-12-18 · source

The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.