2005 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2005 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Agriculture - products
NA
Airports
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
- total
- 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Christmas Island
Area
- land
- 135 sq km
- total
- 135 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
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. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. Geography Christmas Island
Birth rate
NA
Budget
- expenditures
- NA, including capital expenditures of NA
- revenues
- NA
Capital
The Settlement
Climate
tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
Coastline
138.9 km
Constitution
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958)
Country name
- conventional long form
- Territory of Christmas Island
- conventional short form
- Christmas Island
Currency (code)
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code
AUD
Death rate
NA
Dependency status
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================
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. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future
Electricity - production by source
- fossil fuel
- NA
- hydro
- NA
- nuclear
- NA
- other
- NA
Elevation extremes
- highest point
- Murray Hill 361 m
- lowest point
- Indian Ocean 0 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Executive branch
- chief of state
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
- elections
- none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
- head of government
- Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)
Exports
NA
Exports - commodities
phosphate
Exports - partners
Australia, NZ
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June Communications Christmas Island
Flag description
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory Economy Christmas Island
GDP - composition by sector
- agriculture
- NA
- industry
- NA
- services
- NA
GDP - real growth rate
NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
NA
Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean People Christmas Island
Government type
NA
Highways
- paved
- 30 km
- total
- 240 km
- unpaved
- 210 km (2000)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Imports
NA
Imports - commodities
consumer goods
Imports - partners
principally Australia
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Industries
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total
- NA
International organization participation
none
Internet country code
.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
NA Transportation Christmas Island
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Languages
English (official), Chinese, Malay
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 four-year terms)
- election results
- percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
- elections
- held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)
Life expectancy at birth
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total population
- NA
Literacy
NA
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
- 12 nm
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia Transnational Issues Christmas Island
National holiday
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality
- adjective
- Christmas Island
- noun
- Christmas Islander(s)
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate
NA
People - note
the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census Government Christmas Island
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
361 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors
Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Religions
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio
NA
Telephone system
- domestic
- GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
- general assessment
- service provided by the Australian network
- international
- country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
600 (1997)
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate
NA