Names:
conventional long form:
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form:
Pitcairn Islands
Digraph:
PC
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Adamstown
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
Constitution:
Local Government Ordinance of 1964
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 (non-resident) of the
Pitcairn Islands David Joseph MOSS (since NA September 1990);
Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liason
person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government:
Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since
NA)
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Island Council:
elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch:
Island Court
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Other political or pressure groups:
NA
Member of:
SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
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
@Pitcairn Islands, Economy
Overview:
The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile
soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
including citrus, sugar cane, 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.
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:
$430,000
expenditures:
$429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
110 kW
production:
300,000 kWh
consumption per capita:
5,360 kWh (1990)
Industries:
postage stamp sales, handicrafts
Agriculture:
based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and
vegetables grown; must import grain products
Economic aid:
recipient:
ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495
(1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
6.4 km
unpaved:
earth 6.4 km
Ports:
Bounty Bay
Airports:
none
Telecommunications:
24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
@Pitcairn Islands, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Poland, Geography
Location:
Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus
Map references:
Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of
the World
Area:
total area:
312,680 sq km
land area:
304,510 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km,
Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km,
Ukraine 428 km
Coastline:
491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent
precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain:
mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Natural resources:
coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use:
arable land:
46%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
forest damage due to air pollution; improper means for disposal of
large amounts of hazardous and industrial waste; severe water
pollution from industrial and municipal sources; severe air pollution
results from emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed,
but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of
the Sea
Note:
historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack
of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland, People