Christmas Island

Broadcast media

1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)

Internet country code

.cx

Internet users

total: 790 | percent of population: 35.8% (July 2016 est.)

Telephone system

general assessment: service provided by the Australian network | domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network | international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)

Agriculture - products

NA

Budget

revenues: NA | expenditures: NA

Economy - overview

The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.311 (2017 est.) | 1.3442 (2016 est.) | 1.3442 (2015) | 1.3291 (2014 est.) | 1.1094 (2013 est.)

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

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

(31 December 2009 est.)

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

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 the Indian Ocean

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (2011 est.)

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

Population distribution

majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

Terrain

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove) | geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E | time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: self-descriptive name for the main locus of population

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958) | amendments: amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island | conventional short form: Christmas Island | etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615

Dependency status

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

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 Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) | head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018) | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term 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; 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

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Judicial branch

under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island, including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)

Legal system

legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years) | elections: held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 21 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2015 - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2%

National anthem

note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

National symbol(s)

golden bosun bird

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age

Background

Although Europeans had sighted the island at least as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 for the day of its rediscovery. The island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888 with the discovery of the island's phosphate deposits. Following the Second World War, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. The island existed as a separate Crown colony from 1 January 1958 to 1 October 1958 when its transfer to Australian jurisdiction was finalized. That date is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Age structure

0-14 years: 12.79% (male 147/female 135) (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 12.2% (male 202/female 67) (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 57.91% (male 955/female 322) (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 11.66% (male 172/female 85) (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Christmas Island Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Christmas Island. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Ethnic groups

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) | note: no indigenous population

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: NA (2018) | male: NA | female: NA

Languages

English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.) | note: data represent language spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA (2017 est.) | male: NA | female: NA

Nationality

noun: Christmas Islander(s) | adjective: Christmas Island

Population

2,205 (2016 est.)

Population distribution

majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

Population growth rate

1.11% (2014 est.)

Religions

Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove

Railways

total: 18 km (2017) | standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2017) | note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place

Roadways

total: 140 km (2011) | paved: 30 km (2011) | unpaved: 110 km (2011)