Christmas Island

Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore.Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns, and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it.In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island, and the migrants claimed refugee status because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.

land

135 sq km

total

135 sq km

water

0 sq km

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

138.9 km

highest point

Murray Hill 361 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

10 30 S, 105 40 E

located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

NA

total

0 km

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 est.)

Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Southeast Asia

contiguous zone

12 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

phosphate, beaches

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

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

0-14 years

16.6%

15-64 years

70.4%

65 years and over

13% (2021)

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)

note

note: no indigenous population

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

note: data represent language spoken at home

total

38 years (2021 est.)

adjective

Christmas Island

noun

Christmas Islander(s)

female

685 (2021 est.)

male

1,007

total

1,692

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

1.11% (2014 est.)

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.)

none (territory of Australia)

etymology

self-descriptive name for the main locus of population

geographic coordinates

10 25 S, 105 43 E

name

The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see Australia

amendments

amended many times, last in 2020

history

1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)

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

non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

none (territory of Australia)

cabinet

NA

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

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

head of government

Administrator Ms. Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)

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

note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

none (territory of Australia)

none

highest court(s)

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

description

unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of January 2024 - men 8, women 1, percentage women 13%

elections

held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2023 (next to be held in October 2025)

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

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

golden bosun bird

none

18 years of age

high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1.439 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

phosphates, fertilizers, chemical analysis instruments, electrical transformers, measuring instruments (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

NZ 25%, Indonesia 18%, Singapore 12%, Australia 9%, Ireland 8% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, air conditioners, paintings (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Australia 93%, US 3%, Malaysia 2%, Singapore 1%, Fiji 0% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

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

.cx

percent of population

78.6% (2021 est.)

total

1,139 (2021 est.)

domestic

improvements to Christmas Island include an upgrade to the macro cell base stations and deploy a new macro cell base station at the airport (2022)

general assessment

internet access on Christmas Island is provided by satellite; improvements through the Regional Connectivity Program to the macro and small cell mobile sites will provide new and improved mobile, voice and data connectivity for residents and visitors; the upgrade will also support local businesses and community facilities, enabling increased residential access to essential services such as telehealth and education (2022)

international

international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)

1 (2024)

key ports

Flying Fish Cove

medium

1

total ports

1 (2024)

note

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

standard gauge

18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)

total

18 km (2017)

paved

32 km

total

142 km

unpaved

110 km (2011)

defense is the responsibility of Australia

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 est.)