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Christmas Island (territory of Australia) |
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Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues Print This Frame Airports Hotels
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| Christmas Island | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
| Christmas Island | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Map references: | Southeast Asia |
| Area: |
total:
135 sq km
land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 138.9 km |
| Maritime claims: |
contiguous zone:
12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
| Climate: | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
| Natural resources: | phosphate |
| Land use: |
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park |
| Irrigated land: | NA sq km |
| Natural hazards: | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
| Environment - current issues: | NA |
| Geography - note: | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| Christmas Island | People | Top of Page |
| Population: | 2,771 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years:
NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
| Population growth rate: | 7.77% (2001 est.) |
| Birth rate: | NA births/1,000 population |
| Death rate: | NA deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate: | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population |
| Sex ratio: | NA |
| Infant mortality rate: | NA deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population:
NA years
male: NA years female: NA years |
| Total fertility rate: | NA children born/woman |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA% |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Ethnic groups: | Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population |
| Religions: | Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) |
| Languages: | English, Chinese, Malay |
| Literacy: | NA |
| Christmas Island | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
| Government type: | NA |
| Capital: | The Settlement |
| Administrative divisions: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Independence: | none (territory of Australia) |
| National holiday: | NA |
| Constitution: | Christmas Island Act of 1958 |
| Legal system: | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | none |
| International organization participation: | none |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Flag description: | the flag of Australia is used |
| Christmas Island | Economy | Top of Page |
| 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 by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island. |
| GDP: | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate: | NA% |
| GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture:
NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA% |
| Labor force: | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation: | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel:
NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
| Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh |
| Agriculture - products: | NA |
| Exports: | $NA |
| Exports - commodities: | phosphate |
| Exports - partners: | Australia, NZ |
| Imports: | $NA |
| Imports - commodities: | consumer goods |
| Imports - partners: | principally Australia |
| Debt - external: | $NA |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $NA |
| Currency: | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Currency code: | AUD |
| Exchange rates: | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
| Christmas Island | Communications | Top of Page |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | NA |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 0 (1999) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment:
NA
domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: | 1,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | NA |
| Televisions: | 600 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .cx |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000) |
| Internet users: | NA |
| Christmas Island | Transportation | Top of Page |
| Railways: | 24 km to serve phosphate mines |
| Highways: |
total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)
paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999) |
| Waterways: | none |
| Ports and harbors: | Flying Fish Cove |
| Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.) |
| Airports: | 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Christmas Island | Military | Top of Page |
| Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| Christmas Island | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | none |