2020 Edition

Background

Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore. Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns, and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it. In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island, and the migrants claimed refugee status because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.

Area

land

135 sq km

total

135 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Coastline

138.9 km

Elevation

highest point

Murray Hill 361 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

10 30 S, 105 40 E

Geography - note

located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 est.)

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

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

0-14 years

16.6%

15-64 years

70.4%

65 years and over

13% (2021)

Ethnic groups

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)

Languages

English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.)

Median age

total

38 years (2021 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Christmas Island

noun

Christmas Islander(s)

Population

female

685

male

1,007

total

1,692 (2021 est.)

Population growth rate

1.11% (2014 est.)

Religions

Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)

Capital

etymology

Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886

geographic coordinates

10 25 S, 105 43 E

name

The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)

time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

history

1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form

Christmas Island

etymology

named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); Europeans had sighted the island as early as 1615

Dependency status

non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)

election/appointment process

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 Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)

Flag

description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper left to lower right; the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird; the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia; a centered yellow disk displays a green outline of the island

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Judicial branch

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

system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

October 2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Christmas Island Shire Council

most recent election date

10/2023

number of seats

9 (directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

independent (9)

percentage of women in chamber

13%

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

royal anthem, as an Australian territory

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

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

none

Suffrage

18 years of age

Economic overview

high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections

Exchange rates

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023)

Exports - partners

Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities

aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023)

Industries

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.cx

Internet users

percent of population

78.6% (2016 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Ports

key ports

Flying Fish Cove

large

0

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

0

small

0

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

0

Railways

standard gauge

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

total

18 km (2017)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Environmental issues

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining