Pitcairn Islands

Introduction ::Pitcairn Islands

Background:

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:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

25 04 S, 130 06 W

Area:

total: 47 sq km

country comparison to the world: 234

land: 47 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about three tenths the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

51 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Big Ridge 347 m

Natural resources:

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish

note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2011)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially November to March)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Geography - note:

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 and Society ::Pitcairn Islands

Nationality:

noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)

adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

Languages:

English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Religions:

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Population:

48 (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 239

Population growth rate:

0% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

Urbanization:

urban population: 0% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Literacy:

NA

Government ::Pitcairn Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands

conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

name: Adamstown

geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W

time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

The Pitcairn Constitution Order 2010, effective 4 March 2010

Legal system:

local island by-laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:

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 Victoria M. TREADELL (since May 2010); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council

head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1 January 2008)

cabinet: NA

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 in December 2010 (next to be held in December 2013)

election results: Mike WARREN reelected mayor and chairman of the Island Council

Legislative branch:

unicameral Island Council (11 seats; mayor, deputy mayor, 4 members elected by popular vote, 1 member appointed by the governor, 3 ex officio members including governor, deputy governor, and commissioner; deputy mayor and elected members serve two-year terms)

elections: last held on 24 December 2012 (next to be held on 24 December 2014)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - 4 independents

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Pitcairn Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, 2 judges, and the Supreme Court chief justice (ex-officio member); Pitcairn Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 judges)

note - appeals beyond the Pitcairn Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London); note 2: the Court of Appeal was established in 2000 by an Order in Council

judge selection and term of office: all judges of both courts appointed by the governor of the Pitcairn Islands on the instructions of the Queen of England through the Secretary of State; all judges appointed until retirement, normally at age 75

subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

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 green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro (a local plant)

National anthem:

name: ""We From Pitcairn Island""

lyrics/music: unknown/Frederick M. LEHMAN

note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, ""God Save the Queen"" is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy ::Pitcairn Islands

Economy - overview:

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$NA

Agriculture - products:

honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens; fish

Industries:

postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Labor force:

15 (2004)

country comparison to the world: 233

Labor force - by occupation:

note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Budget:

revenues: $746,000

expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

1.2334 (2012)

1.263 (2011)

1.3874 (2010)

1.6002 (2009)

1.4151 (2008)

Communications ::Pitcairn Islands

Telephone system:

general assessment: satellite phone services

domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)

international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)

Internet country code:

.pn

Internet hosts:

26 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 217

Transportation ::Pitcairn Islands

Ports and terminals:

Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

Military ::Pitcairn Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues ::Pitcairn Islands

Disputes - international:

none"