SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(3 fields)
Radio
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telephone system
NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Television
broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA
◆ DEFENSE FORCES(1 fields)
Note
defense is the responsibility of Australia CLIPPERTON ISLAND (possession of France)
◆ ECONOMY(18 fields)
Agriculture
NA
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Economic aid
none
Electricity
capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Exports
$NA commodities: phosphate partners: Australia, NZ
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Imports
$NA commodities: consumer goods partners: principally Australia
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
National product
GDP $NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.
Unemployment rate
NA%
◆ GEOGRAPHY(14 fields)
Area
total area: 135 sq km land area: 135 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline
138.9 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef which can be a maritime hazard international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
phosphate
Note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
◆ GOVERNMENT(17 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
The Settlement
Constitution
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Digraph
KT
Diplomatic representation in US
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA) cabinet: Advisory Council
Flag
the flag of Australia is used
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Judicial branch
none
Legal system
under the authority of the governor general of Australia
Legislative branch
none
Member of
none
Names
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
National holiday
NA
Political parties and leaders
none
Type
territory of Australia
US diplomatic representation
none (territory of Australia)
◆ PEOPLE(14 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Ethnic divisions
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Infant mortality rate
NA
Labor force
NA by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate
NA
Population
889 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
-9% (1995 est.)
Religions
Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
Total fertility rate
NA
◆ TRANSPORTATION(5 fields)
Airports
total: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Flying Fish Cove
Railroads
0 km