2022 Edition

Background

Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants 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 Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million 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 since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 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, 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

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

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.)

Birth rate

NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

NA

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: NA

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: NA

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

note

note: no indigenous population

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

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.)

note

note: data represent language spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

adjective

Christmas Island

noun

Christmas Islander(s)

Population

2,205 (2016 est.)

Population distribution

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

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.)

Sex ratio

NA

Total fertility rate

NA

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

etymology

self-descriptive name for the main locus of population

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

amendments

amended many times, last in 2020

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); the island had been sighted by Europeans 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 David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

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

Acting Administrator Sarah VANDENBROEK (since 4 October 2022)

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

note

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

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

description

unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2021 - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1%

elections

held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2021 (next to be held in October 2023)

National anthem

note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the King" 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

Suffrage

18 years of age

Agricultural products

NA

Budget

expenditures

NA

revenues

NA

Economic 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

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.3291 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.3442 (2015)

Exchange rates 2016

1.3442 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.311 (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities

calcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019)

Exports - partners

Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Imports

NA

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019)

Imports - partners

Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019)

Industries

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Labor force

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

NA

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

36% (2016 est.)

total

790 (2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

improvements to Christmas Island include an upgrade to the macro cell base stations and deploy a new macro cell base station at the airport (2022)

general assessment

internet access on Christmas Island is provided by satellite; improvements through the Regional Connectivity Program to the macro and small cell mobile sites will provide new and improved mobile, voice and data connectivity for residents and visitors; the upgrade will also support local businesses and community facilities, enabling increased residential access to essential services such as telehealth and education (2022)

international

international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)

Airports

total

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2021)

total

1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Flying Fish Cove

Railways

note

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

standard gauge

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

total

18 km (2017)

Roadways

paved

32 km (2011)

total

142 km (2011)

unpaved

110 km (2011)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Disputes - international

none

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 est.)