The World Factbook (1990)/Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Islands (dependent territory of the UK)
_Pitcairn_Islands.jpg)
See regional map X
Geography
Total area: 47 km²; land area: 47 km²
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims:
- Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
- Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
Environment: subject to typhoons (especially November to March)
Note: located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Peru and New Zealand
People
Population: 56 (July 1990), growth rate
0.0% (1990)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Pitcairn Islander(s); adjective—Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions: descendants of Bounty mutineers
Religion: 100% Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: English (official); also a Tahitian/English dialect
Literacy: NA%, but probably high
Labor force: NA; no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Organized labor: NA
Government
Long-form name: Pitcairn, Henderson,
Ducie, and Oeno Islands
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June), 10 June 1989
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, island magistrate
Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council
Judicial branch: Island Court
Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Governor and UK High Commissioner to New Zealand Robin A. C. BYATT (since NA 1988);
Head of Government—Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Brian YOUNG (since NA 1985)
Political parties and leaders: NA
Suffrage: universal at age 18 with three years residency
Elections: Island Council—last held NA (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Communists: none
Other political or pressure groups: NA
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy
Overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing
and subsistence farming. The fertile soil
of the valleys produces a wide variety of
fruits and vegetables, including citrus,
sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams,
and beans. Bartering is an important part
of the economy. The major sources of
revenue are the sale of postage stamps to
collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing
ships.
GNP: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $430,440; expenditures $429,983, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY87 est.)
Exports: $NA; commodities—fruits, vegetables, curios; partners—NA
Imports: $NA; commodities—fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs; partners—NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 110 kW capacity; 0.30 million kWh produced, 4,410 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products
Aid: none
Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural—dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.6581 (January 1990), 1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6866 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Railroads: none
Highways: 6.4 km dirt roads
Ports: Bounty Bay
Airports: none
Telecommunications: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; stations—1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK