1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Affiliation

(territory of Australia)

Agriculture

NA

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Area

total area: 135 sq km land area: 135 sq km comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Birth rate

NA

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Capital

The Settlement

Climate

tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Coastline

138.9 km

Constitution

Christmas Island Act of 1958

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Death rate

NA

Digraph

KT

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of Australia)

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA) cabinet: Advisory Council

Exports

$NA commodities: phosphate partners: Australia, NZ

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

Highways

total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

Imports

$NA commodities: consumer goods partners: principally Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Infant mortality rate

NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

none

Labor force

NA by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Languages

English

Legal system

under the authority of the governor general of Australia

Legislative branch

none

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and Indonesia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Member of

none

Names

conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island

National holiday

NA

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

Nationality

noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island

Natural resources

phosphate

Net migration rate

NA

Note

located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

defense is the responsibility of Australia

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.

Political parties and leaders

none

Population

973 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

-9% (1994 est.)

Ports

Flying Fish Cove

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)

Telecommunications

broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 TV

Terrain

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Total fertility rate

NA

Type

territory of Australia

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of Australia)