2012 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2012 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
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
Area
- 135 sq km 135 sq km 0 sq km
- total
- 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 extremes
- Indian Ocean 0 m Murray Hill 361 m
- highest point
- Murray Hill 361 m
- lowest point
- Indian Ocean 0 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 Indian Ocean
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% 0% 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
- 12 nm 12 nm 200 nm
- contiguous zone
- 12 nm
- exclusive fishing zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
phosphate, beaches
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
People and Society
Age structure
- NA NA NA (2012 est.)
- 0-14 years
- NA
- 15-64 years
- NA
- 65 years and over
- NA (2012 est.)
Birth rate
-9 births/1,000 population
Death rate
-9 deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% no indigenous population (2001)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
- NA NA NA
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total
- NA
Languages
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Life expectancy at birth
- NA NA NA
- female
- NA
- male
- NA
- total population
- NA
Literacy
NA
Nationality
- Christmas Islander(s) Christmas Island
- adjective
- Christmas Island
- noun
- Christmas Islander(s)
Net migration rate
NA
Population
1,496 (July 2010 est.)
Population growth rate
1.136% (2010 est.)
Religions
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio
NA (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate
NA
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
- The Settlement 10 25 S, 105 43 E UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- geographic coordinates
- 10 25 S, 105 43 E
- name
- The Settlement
- time difference
- UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Country name
- Territory of Christmas Island Christmas Island
- conventional long form
- Territory of Christmas Island
- conventional short form
- Christmas Island
Dependency status
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009) 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 and represents the monarch and Australia
- chief of state
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general
- elections
- 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 and represents the monarch and Australia
- head of government
- Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
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 the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
Government type
NA
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation
none
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Legal system
legal system is 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) held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2009 (next to be held in 2011) percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
- election results
- percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
- elections
- held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2009 (next to be held in 2011)
National anthem
- 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)
- 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, 26 January (1788)
National symbol(s)
golden bosun bird
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Suffrage
18 years of age
Economy
Agriculture - products
NA
Budget
- $NA $NA
- expenditures
- $NA
- revenues
- $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 but closed in 1998.
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.963 (2012) 0.9695 (2011) 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008)
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
phosphate
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$NA
Imports
$NA
Imports - commodities
consumer goods
Labor force
NA
Communications
Broadcast media
1 community radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations are received via satellite (2009)
Internet country code
.cx
Internet hosts
3,028 (2012)
Internet users
464 (2001)
Telephone system
- service provided by the Australian network GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
- domestic
- GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
- general assessment
- service provided by the Australian network
- international
- country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2012)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2012)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 1 (2012)
- total
- 1
Ports and terminals
Flying Fish Cove
Railways
- 18 km 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)
- total
- 18 km
Roadways
- 140 km 30 km 110 km (2007)
- total
- 140 km
- unpaved
- 110 km (2007)
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none