Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 36 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 36 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 235

Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

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

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

Climate:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:
volcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Elevation:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
agricultural land: 25% (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: 25% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 11.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 63.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

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

Population distribution:
population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:
inadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem

Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated