SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(10 fields)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet country code
.cx
Internet users
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
600 (1997)
◆ ECONOMY(30 fields)
Agriculture - products
NA
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code
AUD
Debt - external
$NA
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 by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island.
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
phosphate
Exports - partners
Australia, NZ
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
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%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$NA
Imports - commodities
consumer goods
Imports - partners
principally Australia
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; 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
NA
Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park
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 hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
phosphate
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
◆ GOVERNMENT(18 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
The Settlement
Constitution
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
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 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
Flag description
the flag of Australia is used
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 one-year terms) elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
National holiday
NA
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
◆ PEOPLE(16 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
English, Chinese, Malay
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Nationality
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
2,771 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate
7.77% (2001 est.)
Religions
Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(7 fields)
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Highways
total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Merchant marine
none (2000 est.)
Ports and harbors
Flying Fish Cove
Railways
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Waterways
none