Overview:
The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of
prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The
number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached
29,000 in FY89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a
favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to
become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$4.2 million, including capital expenditures of $400,000 (1989 est.)
Exports:
$1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86)
commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados
partners:
Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports:
$15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
7,000 kW
production:
8 million kWh
consumption per capita:
3,160 kWh (1990)
Industries:
tourism
Agriculture:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables,
fruit, cattle, poultry
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704
(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
@Norfolk Island, Communications
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: earth, coral 27 km Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade Airports: total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1 Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
@Norfolk Island, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
@Northern Mariana Islands
Header Affiliation: (commonwealth in political union with the US)
@Northern Mariana Islands, Geography
Location:
Oceania, Micronesia, in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km
west-southwest of Honolulu, about three-quarters of the way between
Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
477 sq km
land area:
477 sq km
comparative area:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal
temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July
to October
Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral
reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters
(Mt. Okso' Takpochao on Saipan)
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
5% on Saipan
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to
disease
natural hazards:
active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (especially
August to November)
international agreements:
NA
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands, People