# Henderson Island

> atoll in the Pitcairn Islands, British Overseas Territories

**Wikidata**: [Q379759](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379759)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henderson-island

## Summary
Henderson Island is an atoll located in the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Pacific. It is geographically classified as an island and is administered by the United Kingdom.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Atoll
- **Location**: Pitcairn Islands, South Pacific
- **Coordinates**: Latitude -24.375, Longitude -128.325
- **Aliases**: San João Baptista, Elizabeth Island
- **Sovereign State**: United Kingdom
- **Territory Status**: British Overseas Territory
- **Pitcairn Islands Inception**: January 1, 1838
- **United Kingdom Inception**: 1927 (official name change), 1801 (Union with Ireland), 1707 (Union of England and Scotland)
- **UK Capital**: London
- **UK Population**: Approximately 67 million (2021)
- **UK Area**: 242,495 square kilometres
- **UK Currency**: Pound sterling (£)
- **UK Head of State**: King Charles III
- **UK Head of Government**: Rishi Sunak
- **UK Government Type**: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system
- **UK GDP**: $307 billion (2022)
- **UK HDI**: 0.929 (2021, "Very High")
- **UK Driving Side**: Left-hand traffic
- **UK Calling Code**: +44
- **UK Internet TLD**: .uk
- **UK ISO Codes**: GB, GBR, 826

## FAQs
**Where is Henderson Island located?**
Henderson Island is situated in the South Pacific as part of the Pitcairn Islands, with specific coordinates at latitude -24.375 and longitude -128.325.

**What are the alternative names for Henderson Island?**
The island is historically known by the aliases San João Baptista and Elizabeth Island.

**What country governs Henderson Island?**
Henderson Island is a British Overseas Territory, meaning it is governed by the United Kingdom.

**What is the political status of the Pitcairn Islands?**
The Pitcairn Islands are a British overseas territory in the South Pacific, with an official inception date recorded as January 1, 1838.

**Who is the current head of state for the territory containing Henderson Island?**
The head of state is the monarch of the United Kingdom, currently King Charles III, who serves as the sovereign for the territory.

**What is the population of the sovereign state governing Henderson Island?**
As of 2021, the population of the United Kingdom is approximately 67 million.

**What is the economic context of the United Kingdom?**
The United Kingdom operates a mixed economy with strong social welfare programs, a nominal GDP of $307 billion (2022), and uses the pound sterling (£) as its currency.

## Why It Matters
Henderson Island is part of the Pitcairn Islands, which belong to the United Kingdom, a significant global player with a rich history, diverse culture, and strong economic influence. The United Kingdom is a founding member of the United Nations, a member of the G7 and G20, and a key player in international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and the European Space Agency. The country's contributions to science, arts, and politics have had a profound impact on the world. Its democratic institutions, legal system, and cultural heritage continue to shape global standards and practices.

The United Kingdom's significance extends beyond its borders as a member of major international organizations and as an active participant in regional affairs. The country's commitment to multilateralism, human rights, and sustainable development has earned it recognition in international forums. The United Kingdom's economic model, characterized by a mixed economy with strong social welfare programs, has attracted international attention as a potential development template for other nations.

The country's cultural influence, particularly through its contributions to literature, music, and sports, extends throughout the English-speaking world. London serves as a global financial hub, while the country's film and literary traditions have gained international acclaim.

## Notable For
- **Geographic Isolation**: Located at coordinates -24.375, -128.325 in the South Pacific.
- **Historical Aliases**: Historically known as San João Baptista and Elizabeth Island.
- **Sovereign Democracy**: Part of a territory governed by the United Kingdom, which has a democracy index of 8.54 (2020).
- **High Human Development**: The governing nation has an HDI of 0.929 (2021), classified as "Very High."
- **Pioneering Social Policies**: The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage (2013).
- **Freedom Status**: Designated as a "free country" in Freedom in the World rankings.
- **Economic Power**: The sovereign state includes London, a major global financial center.
- **Cultural Influence**: The governing nation has global contributions to literature, music, and sports.

## Body

### Geography and Classification
Henderson Island is classified as an atoll and a piece of sub-continental land completely surrounded by water. It is located within the Pitcairn Islands archipelago. The island's precise geographic coordinates are latitude -24.375 and longitude -128.325. It is also associated with the entity "geography of the Pitcairn Islands," which describes the physical characteristics of the region. The island has been referred to by the aliases "San João Baptista" and "Elizabeth Island."

### Administrative Location: The Pitcairn Islands
Henderson Island is part of the Pitcairn Islands, a British overseas territory located in the South Pacific. The territory's inception is recorded as January 1, 1838. As a British Overseas Territory, the Pitcairn Islands fall under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom (country code ). The administrative connection links the small island directly to the broader governance of the United Kingdom.

### Sovereign State Context: The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the sovereign state responsible for the Pitcairn Islands and, by extension, Henderson Island. It is an island country in north-west Europe, consisting of the island of Great Britain and the northern part of the island of Ireland.

#### History and Independence
The United Kingdom's path to sovereignty began with the Union of the Crowns in 1603, uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland. The Act of Union 1707 formally established the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Act of Union 1800 added Ireland, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The country's name was officially changed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927, following the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the establishment of the Irish Free State.

#### Geography and Environment
The United Kingdom occupies a territory of 242,495 square kilometres in north-west Europe. The country lies at coordinates latitude 54.6° and longitude -2°. The landscape is characterized by rolling plains, low mountain ranges, and coastal areas. The highest point is Ben Nevis (1,344 metres), while the lowest point is The Fens (4 metres below sea level). The country shares its northern border with Ireland and maritime boundaries with France and Denmark. The easternmost point is located at coordinates lat: 52.48106832, lon: 1.76297307, while the westernmost point is at lat: 54.46477, lon: -8.17751. The northernmost point is at lat: 60.87, lon: -0.87, and the southernmost point has coordinates of lat: 49.95673883, lon: -5.20697638.

#### Government and Politics
The United Kingdom operates as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The head of state is the monarch, currently King Charles III, who assumed office on September 8, 2022. The head of government is the Prime Minister, currently Rishi Sunak, who assumed office on October 25, 2022. The executive body is the Government of the United Kingdom, led by the Prime Minister. The legislative body is the Parliament of the United Kingdom, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The country's democracy index score of 8.54 (2020) places it among the top 15 most democratic nations.

#### Demographics and Society
As of 2021, the population of the United Kingdom is approximately 67 million. The population is diverse, with the largest ethnic group being White British (87.2%), followed by Black Britons (3%), British Indians (2.3%), and British Pakistanis (1.9%). The society is highly urbanized, with the urban population reaching 56.4 million in 2022 compared to a rural population of 10.5 million. The life expectancy at birth is approximately 81 years (2022). The birth rate is 10 per 1,000 people (2022), and the death rate is 9 per 1,000 people (2022). The official language is English, with Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, and Irish also recognized.

#### Economy and Infrastructure
The economy of the United Kingdom is characterized by a mixed economy with strong social welfare programs. The nominal GDP was $307 billion in 2022. The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 32.8 (2012). The unemployment rate is 6% (2014). The VAT rate is 20% standard and 5% reduced. The median income is approximately £31,617. The currency is the pound sterling (£), with the Bank of England serving as the central bank. The country has a right-hand traffic system. Speed limits vary by road type: 130 km/h on highways, 100 km/h on two-lane expressways, 80 km/h on paved rural roads, and 50 km/h in built-up areas. The electrical system operates at 230V and 50Hz using Europlugs, Type L, and AS/NZS 3112 plugs.

#### International Relations and Memberships
The United Kingdom maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries, including Argentina, Brazil, United States, China, Spain, and many others. It is a member of the United Nations (since 1945), World Trade Organization (since 1995), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (since 1961), European Space Agency (since 1978), and many other international bodies including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, and Interpol.

#### Symbols and Culture
The national flag is the Flag of the United Kingdom. The coat of arms is the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The anthem is "God Save the King." The motto is "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right). The country is known by the nicknames "Albion" and "Great Britain." Cultural highlights include London, one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited European settlements. The country is also known for its contributions to literature, music, and sports, with London serving as a global financial hub.

#### Administrative Divisions
The United Kingdom is divided into four constituent nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each nation has its own legal and administrative systems, contributing to the country's regional diversity.

#### Technical Identifiers and Standards
The country uses the .uk top-level internet domain and has an international calling code of +44. The aircraft registration prefix is G. The license plate code is GB (until 2021-09-27) and UK (since 2021-09-28). The maritime identification digits are 232, 233, 234, 235. The mobile country code is 234, 235. The ISO codes are Alpha-2: GB, Alpha-3: GBR, Numeric: 826. The emergency number is 999, 112. The timezone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Western European Time (WET).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. GeoNames
3. [Source](http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487)
4. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File