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Flag of Christmas Island
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
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  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of Christmas Island

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Christmas Island
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
   Geography    Christmas Island
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
80 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
phosphate, beaches
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
   People    Christmas Island
Population:
Definition Field Listing
474 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
-9% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: NA years
female: NA years
male: NA years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
NA
   Government    Christmas Island
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
none
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory
   Economy    Christmas Island
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Australia, NZ
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
principally Australia
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
AUD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
600 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
2 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
NA
   Transportation    Christmas Island
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Christmas Island
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Australia
   Transnational Issues    Christmas Island
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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