2017 Edition

Background

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888 with the discovery of the island's phosphate deposits. Following the Second World War, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. The island existed as a separate Crown colony from 1 January 1958 to 1 October 1958 when its transfer to Australian jurisdiction was finalized. That date is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Area

135 sq km 135 sq km 0 sq km

land

135 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

NA lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point

Murray Hill 361 m

mean elevation

NA

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% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% 100% (mainly tropical reainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011 est.)

agricultural land

0%

other

100% (mainly tropical reainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Age structure

12.79% (male 147/female 135) 12.2% (male 202/female 67) 57.91% (male 955/female 322) 11.66% (male 172/female 85) 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

12.79% (male 147/female 135)

15-24 years

12.2% (male 202/female 67)

25-54 years

57.91% (male 955/female 322)

55-64 years

11.66% (male 172/female 85)

65 years and over

5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% no indigenous population (2001)

note

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 (2017 est.)

female

NA (2017 est.)

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

Christmas Islander(s) Christmas Island

adjective

Christmas Island

noun

Christmas Islander(s)

Population

2,205 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.11% (2014 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 16.9%, Christian 16.4%, Muslim 14.8%, other 1.3%, none 9.2%, unspecified 41.5% (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

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)

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times, last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2016)

Country name

Territory of Christmas Island Christmas Island named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its discovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643)

conventional long form

Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form

Christmas Island

etymology

named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its discovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643)

Dependency status

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

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 Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012) 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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)

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 Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)

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

note

the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Judicial branch

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)

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

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 directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years) held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2015 (next to be held on 21 October 2017) percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9

description

unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9

elections

held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2015 (next to be held on 21 October 2017)

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 (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 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

Agriculture - products

NA

Budget

$NA $NA

expenditures

$NA

revenues

$NA

Economy - overview

The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.3442 (2016) 1.3442 (2015) 1.3291 (2014 est.) 1.1094 (2013 est.) 0.9695 (2012 est.)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

phosphate

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

consumer goods

Industries

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Labor force

NA

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.cx

Internet users

35.8% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

35.8% (July 2016 est.)

total

790

Telephone system

service provided by the Australian network local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network international code - 61 8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2017)

domestic

local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network

general assessment

service provided by the Australian network

international

international code - 61 8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2017)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

total

1

Ports and terminals

Flying Fish Cove

major seaport(s)

Flying Fish Cove

Railways

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

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 (2017)

standard gauge

18 km 1.435-m (not in operation)

total

18 km

Roadways

140 km 30 km 110 km (2011)

paved

30 km

total

140 km

unpaved

110 km (2011)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none