Administrative divisionsnone (territory of Australia)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
NA
Airports
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Background
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun 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.
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Capital
The Settlement
Climate
tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
Coastline
80 km
Constitution
NA
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code
AUD
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
NA
Dependency status
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international
none
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. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in mid-2004
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
other: NA
nuclear: NA
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports
NA
Exports - commodities
phosphate
Exports - partners
Australia, NZ
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Flag description
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory
GDP
purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate
NA
Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 210 km (2000)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Imports
NA
Imports - commodities
consumer goods
Imports - partners
principally Australia
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate
NA
Industries
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA
International organization participation
none
Internet country code
.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
NA
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
Languages
English (official), Chinese, Malay
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)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years
female: NA years (2004 est.)
male: NA years
Literacy
NA
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
Merchant marine
none
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
National holiday
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
396 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA
Population growth rate
-9% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Religions
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio
NA (2004 est.)
Telephone system
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
international: country code - 61; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
600 (1997)
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA