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The World Factbook 2002
| Christmas Island |

Introduction | Christmas Island

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.

Geography | Christmas Island

Location: | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: | 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: | Southeast Asia
Area: | total: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative: | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: | 0 km
Coastline: | 80 km
Maritime claims: | contiguous zone: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: | phosphate, beaches
Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: | NA sq km
Natural hazards: | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People | Christmas Island

Population: | 474 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: | -9% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: | NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: | NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: | NA
Infant mortality rate: | NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA years female: NA years male: NA years
Total fertility rate: | NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA
Nationality: | noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions: | Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages: | English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy: | NA

Government | Christmas Island

Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type: | NA
Capital: | The Settlement
Administrative divisions: | none (territory of Australia)
Independence: | none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: | NA
Constitution: | NA
Legal system: | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch: | unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders: | none
Political pressure groups and leaders: | none
International organization participation: | none
Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia)
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

Economy | Christmas Island

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, slated to begin operation in 2003.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: | NA%
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: | NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA%
Labor force: | NA
Labor force - by occupation: | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Unemployment rate: | NA%
Budget: | revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: | NA%
Electricity - production: | NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other: NA% nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh
Agriculture - products: | NA
Exports: | $NA
Exports - commodities: | phosphate
Exports - partners: | Australia, NZ
Imports: | $NA
Imports - commodities: | consumer goods
Imports - partners: | principally Australia
Debt - external: | $NA
Economic aid - recipient: | $NA
Currency: | Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code: | AUD
Exchange rates: | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Communications | Christmas Island

Telephones - main lines in use: | NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: | NA
Telephone system: | general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: | 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | NA
Televisions: | 600 (1997)
Internet country code: | .cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)
Internet users: | NA

Transportation | Christmas Island

Railways: | 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways: | total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Waterways: | none
Ports and harbors: | Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: | none (2002 est.)
Airports: | 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)

Military | Christmas Island

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues | Christmas Island

Disputes - international: | none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002