Page last updated on February 08, 2019

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

Geographic coordinates:
25 04 S, 130 06 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 47 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 47 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 234

Area - comparative:
about three-tenths the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
51 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

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

Terrain:
rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation:
0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean
347 highest point: Palwala Valley Point on Big Ridge

Natural resources:
miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish, note, manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

Land use:
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 74.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 25.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
less than 50 inhabitants on Pitcairn Island, most reside near the village of Adamstown

Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones (especially November to March), but generally only heavy tropical storms; landslides

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