New Gough Island

Country of New Gough Island
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: The Great New Gough Island
Status	Recognised as a country of Riamo with independence in foreign relations de jure; operating as an independent state under Riamese protection de facto (since 1980).
Capital	South Metro
Largest District	The Newlands
Official languages	Common
Recognised regional languages	Gough
Ethnic groups (2024)	White (43%) Black (22%) East Asian (15%) Native (10%) Arab (6%) Mixed Race (4%)
Religion (2024)	Non Religious (36%) Christan (34%) East Asian Religions (15%) Native Gough Religions (10%) Other (3%) Islam (2%)
Demonym(s)	New Gough Islander
Government	Unitary Executive lead Democracy under a federal constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Diana II
• Executive Mayor	Helen Zealand
• Vice Executive Mayor	Richard Wright
Legislature	National Assembly
Country of Riamo
• Arrival of the First Colonists	1609
• Self Governed Colony	January 1, 1955
• Recognition of independence in foreign relations	July 8, 1980
Area
•	1,836.94 sq mi (4,757.7 km2)
Population
• 2024 census	1,098,000
• Density	597.73/sq mi (230.8/km2)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	ACU 30.744 Billion
• Per capita	ACU 28,000
Gini (2024)	34.6 medium
HDI (2024)	0.827 very high
Currency	New Gough island Hull (NGIH) (NGIH)
Time zone	New Gough Island Time
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+53
Internet TLD	.ng

New Gough Island officially the Country of New Gough Island or less commonly known, The New Gough Island City is a country in the southern hemisphere. The country is made up of a large island and a smaller island. As of the 2024 census, the nation's population stood at 1.098 million. The country has a land area of 1,836.94 sq mi. The capital district is South Metro. While the largest is The Newlands. The majority of the country's population lives on the highly urbanized South New Gough Island. While the North New Gough Island is highly mountainous and forested. The climate of the country is tropical monsoonal, with a highland subtropical climate in the mountains of the north island.

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1730	10,000	—
1750	28,000	+180.0%
1800	80,000	+185.7%
1820	154,000	+92.5%
1850	224,000	+45.5%
1870	297,000	+32.6%
1880	383,000	+29.0%
1890	448,000	+17.0%
1900	581,000	+29.7%
1910	654,000	+12.6%
1920	737,000	+12.7%
1930	812,000	+10.2%
1940	864,000	+6.4%
1950	903,000	+4.5%
1960	961,000	+6.4%
1970	1,008,000	+4.9%
1980	998,000	−1.0%
1990	959,000	−3.9%
2000	984,000	+2.6%
2010	1,010,000	+2.6%
2020	1,052,000	+4.2%
2024	1,098,000	+4.4%

Geography

Climate

The Climate of New Gough Island is Tropical to Highland Humid Subtropical Monsoonal with a dry season and a wet season. Though there are considered 3 seasons: Wet season from late December to April, the Cool Dry Season from May through August, and the Hot Dry Season from September to mid-December. During the wet season temperatures are cooler but humid. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are very common. On days when there is no rain it is usually overcast and foggy in the mornings. Tropical Cyclones can occur during the wet season. The most powerful tropical cyclone to hit New Gough Island was Super Tropical Cyclone Wanda on January 5, 1972, which brought 20 in (508 mm) of rainfall in 24 hours and winds reaching 160 mph (257 kmph). The storm caused horrific flooding; the worst damage ever seen in a century from a tropical cyclone. Heavy rain events occur usually 1 to 3 times per year, heavy rain events are thunderstorms that drop more than 4 in (101.6 mm) of rainfall in a single day. The worst rainstorm brought 25 in (635 mm) of rain in 24 hours. on February 14, 1996.

The cool dry season brings mild to cool temperatures and low humidity. It is usually sunny and cooler with nice breezes. The coldest temperatures recorded happen in this season and cold waves can occur though they usually happen once per year. The coldest temperature ever recorded was 30 degrees F (-1 degrees C) on Mount Blandan on July 4, 1977. A dusting of snow also occurred on summit that day. Cold waves usually last a few days and rebound quickly.

The hot dry season is the most hot and humid time of year. Temperatures climb quickly reaching an apex in November. Temperatures can reach 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) or higher which can be considered a heatwave. The highest temperature ever recorded was 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) on November 18, 2020. Heatwaves can last on the low end 3 days to 14 days at the most extreme. Heat index can make it feel very hot and oppressive, the worst heat index was also recorded on November 18, 2020 with a dangerous reading of 122 degrees F (50 degrees C). Overnight temperatures rarely below 70 degrees F (21 degrees C). The highest overnight temperature was 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) on November 20, 2020. Thunderstorms increase in frequency as the wet season draws closer usually at the very end of November.

Climate data for South Metro, New Gough Island
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	91 (33)	89 (32)	90 (32)	94 (34)	92 (33)	88 (31)	90 (32)	95 (35)	98 (37)	102 (39)	104 (40)	100 (38)	104 (40)
Average high °F (°C)	82.7 (28.2)	80.2 (26.8)	79.6 (26.4)	76.7 (24.8)	74.2 (23.4)	73.4 (23.0)	74.6 (23.7)	77.8 (25.4)	84.6 (29.2)	89.2 (31.8)	92.6 (33.7)	86.3 (30.2)	81.0 (27.2)
Daily mean °F (°C)	77 (25)	75.3 (24.1)	73.9 (23.3)	71.1 (21.7)	69 (21)	67.1 (19.5)	68.3 (20.2)	71.2 (21.8)	76.2 (24.6)	81.1 (27.3)	84.1 (28.9)	80.8 (27.1)	74.6 (23.7)
Average low °F (°C)	71.2 (21.8)	70.4 (21.3)	68.1 (20.1)	65.4 (18.6)	63.8 (17.7)	60.7 (15.9)	61.9 (16.6)	64.5 (18.1)	67.8 (19.9)	72.9 (22.7)	75.6 (24.2)	75.2 (24.0)	68.1 (20.1)
Record low °F (°C)	64 (18)	61 (16)	58 (14)	54 (12)	50 (10)	45 (7)	47 (8)	53 (12)	59 (15)	63 (17)	67 (19)	66 (19)	45 (7)
Average rainfall inches (mm)	12.8 (330)	15.6 (400)	11.5 (290)	8.1 (210)	2.9 (74)	1.2 (30)	0.9 (23)	1.3 (33)	2.1 (53)	2.6 (66)	3.2 (81)	7.2 (180)	69.4 (1,770)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1)	14	16	12	10	5	4	3	4	4	5	5	9	91
Source: New Gough Island Weather Service

Administrative Divisions

Districts

Districts of New Gough Island

District	Population 2010	Population 2020	Population Estimate 2024	Population Change	Land Area	Population Density	Number of Neighborhoods
South Metro	51,000	88,000	100,000	+12%	15 sq mi (39 km2)	6,667 people per sq mi (2,564.1 people per sq km)	5
Old Flatiron	334,000	291,000	280,000	-3.8%	40 sq mi (100 km2)	7,000 people per sq mi (2,800 people per sq km)	10
Star Hills	95,000	110,000	130,000	+15.4%	55.84 sq mi (144.6 km2)	2,328.1 people per sq mi (899 people per sq km)	8
Old Gough City	165,000	144,000	132,000	-8.33%	10 sq mi (26 km2)	13,200 people per sq mi (5,076.9 people per sq km)	4
The Newlands	272,000	337,000	383,000	+12.1%	120.85 sq mi (313.0 km2)	3,169.2 people per sq mi (1,223.6 people per sq km)	12
North New Gough Island Wildlands	78,000	70,000	63,000	-10%	1,353.55 sq mi (3,505.7 km2)	46.5 people per sq mi (18 people per sq km)	5
South New Gough Island Wildlands	15,000	12,000	10,000	-16.34%	241.7 sq mi (626 km2)	41.4 people per sq mi (16 people per sq km)	3

Government

Politics

2020 New Gough Island General Elections