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Introduction |
Christmas Island |
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| Background |
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
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Geography |
Christmas Island |
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| Area |
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative |
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC |
| Climate |
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
| Coastline |
138.9 km |
| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
| Environment - current issues |
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining |
| Geographic coordinates |
10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Geography - note |
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| Irrigated land |
NA |
| Land boundaries |
0 km |
| Land use |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005) |
| Location |
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Map references |
Southeast Asia |
| Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
| Natural hazards |
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
| Natural resources |
phosphate, beaches |
| Terrain |
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
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| Age structure |
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA |
| Birth rate |
NA (2008 est.) |
| Death rate |
NA (2008 est.) |
| Ethnic groups |
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS |
NA |
| Infant mortality rate |
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.) |
| Languages |
English (official), Chinese, Malay |
| Life expectancy at birth |
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.) |
| Literacy |
NA |
| Nationality |
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Net migration rate |
NA (2008 est.) |
| Population |
1,402 (July 2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate |
0% (2008 est.) |
| Religions |
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
| Sex ratio |
NA |
| Total fertility rate |
NA (2008 est.) |
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Transportation |
Christmas Island |
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| Airports |
1 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
| Ports and terminals |
Flying Fish Cove |
| Roadways |
total: 140 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (2007) |
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Government |
Christmas Island |
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| Administrative divisions |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Capital |
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Constitution |
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Dependency status |
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department |
| Diplomatic representation from the US |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US |
none (territory of Australia) |
| Executive branch |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Flag description |
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes |
| Government type |
NA |
| Independence |
none (territory of Australia) |
| International organization participation |
none |
| Judicial branch |
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Legal system |
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
| Legislative branch |
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9 |
| National holiday |
Australia Day, 26 January (1788) |
| Political parties and leaders |
none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders |
none |
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| Budget |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA |
| Currency (code) |
Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Economic aid - recipient |
$NA |
| Economy - overview |
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future. |
| Exchange rates |
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004) |
| Exports |
$NA |
| Exports - commodities |
phosphate |
| Fiscal year |
1 July - 30 June |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) |
$NA |
| Imports |
$NA |
| Imports - commodities |
consumer goods |
| Industries |
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Labor force |
NA |
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Communications |
Christmas Island |
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| Internet country code |
.cx |
| Internet hosts |
1,821 (2008) |
| Internet users |
464 (2001) |
| Radio broadcast stations |
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006) |
| Telephone system |
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005) |
| Telephones - main lines in use |
NA |
| Television broadcast stations |
0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006) |
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Military |
Christmas Island |
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| Military - note |
defense is the responsibility of Australia |
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Transnational Issues |
Christmas Island |
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| Disputes - international |
none |
