Compare Jan Mayen (2003) - Norfolk Island (2001)

This desolate, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth.

Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Birth rate

-

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

-

revenues:
$4.6 million

expenditures:
$4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)

Capital

-

Kingston

Climate

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

124.1 km

32 km

Constitution

-

Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Jan Mayen

conventional long form:
Territory of Norfolk Island

conventional short form:
Norfolk Island

Currency

-

Australian dollar (AUD)

Death rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 population

Debt - external

-

$NA

Dependency status

territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

-

none (territory of Australia)

Disputes - international

none

Economic aid - recipient

-

$NA

Economy - overview

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located on the island.

Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

Electricity - consumption

-

NA kWh

Electricity - production

-

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m

highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mount Bates 319 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Ethnic groups

-

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Exchange rates

-

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)

Executive branch

-

chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Anthony J. MESSNER (since 4 August 1997)

head of government:
Assembly President and Chief Minister Ronald Coane NOBBS (since 23 February 2000)

cabinet:
Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the Administrator

elections:
the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 23 February 2000 (next to be held by March 2003)

election results:
Ronald Coane NOBBS elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%

Exports

-

$1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)

Exports - commodities

-

postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners

-

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Fiscal year

-

1 July - 30 June

Flag description

the flag of Norway is used

three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate

-

NA%

Geographic coordinates

71 00 N, 8 00 W

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Geography - note

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

-

Highways

-

total:
80 km

paved:
53 km

unpaved:
27 km (2001)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%

Imports

-

$17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)

Imports - commodities

-

NA

Imports - partners

-

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Independence

-

none (territory of Australia)

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

tourism

Infant mortality rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

NA%

International organization participation

-

none

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

NA sq km

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Labor force

-

1,395 (1991 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

-

tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (1998 est.)

arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
25%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
75% (1993 est.)

Languages

-

English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Legal system

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Legislative branch

-

unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)

elections:
last held 23 February 2000 (next to be held by March 2003)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population:
NA years

male:
NA years

female:
NA years

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Map references

Arctic Region

Oceania

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 10 NM

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 4 NM

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2000 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Norway

defense is the responsibility of Australia

National holiday

-

Pitcairners Arrival Day, 8 June (1856)

Nationality

-

noun:
Norfolk Islander(s)

adjective:
Norfolk Islander(s)

Natural hazards

dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

typhoons (especially May to July)

Natural resources

none

fish

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

none

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2003 est.)

1,879 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

-0.71% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)