2007 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2007 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
NA
Airports
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
- total
- 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
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 began 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
- revenues
- $NA
Capital
- geographic coordinates
- 18 44 N, 64 19 W
- name
- The Settlement
- time difference
- UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
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
non-self governing 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 8 February, 2007
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
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Ethnic groups
- Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
- note
- no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)
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 Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
phosphate
Exports - partners
Australia, NZ (2004)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June Communications Christmas Island
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, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flag of Australia is used for official purposes Economy Christmas Island
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
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 (2004)
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 hosts
2,368 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
464 (2001) Transportation Christmas Island
Irrigated land
NA
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
- 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 in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
Life expectancy at birth
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total population
- NA
Literacy
NA Government Christmas Island
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
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
1,493 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate
0% (2006 est.)
Ports and terminals
Flying Fish Cove Military Christmas Island
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Religions
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Roadways
- paved
- 32 km
- total
- 142 km
- unpaved
- 110 km (2006)
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 - 61-8; satellite earth stations - one INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia (2006)
Televisions
600 (1997)
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate
NA