Pitcairn

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Pitcairn Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.
   Geography    Pitcairn Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Oceania
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing 0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 51 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed offshore
   People    Pitcairn Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 48 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 0% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing NA
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing NA
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
   Government    Pitcairn Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing 30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing local island by-laws
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006); Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2004 (next to be held in December 2007)
election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing unicameral Island Council (10 seats; 5 members elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing none
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing 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    Pitcairn Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. 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. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn's small labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 15 able-bodied men (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens, fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered generator
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $3.465 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing 1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (15 Ham radio operators (VP6)) (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .pn
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
   Transportation    Pitcairn Islands
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
   Military    Pitcairn Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing defense is the responsibility of the UK
   Transnational Issues    Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing none



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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