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.
Geography:
Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E
People:
Population:
2,182 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2009 est.)
Government:
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Dependency status:
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum (2002)
Transportation:
Airports:
1 (2012)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Military:
Defence is the responsibility of Australia
Economy:
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.
