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Compare Christmas Island (2001) - Bahamas, The (2003)

Compare Christmas Island (2001) z Bahamas, The (2003)

 Christmas Island (2001)Bahamas, The (2003)
 Christmas IslandBahamas, The
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Age structure 0-14 years:
NA%

15-64 years:
NA%

65 years and over:
NA%
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730)


15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875)


65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products NA citrus, vegetables; poultry
Airports 1 (2000 est.) 64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 30


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 34


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Area total:
135 sq km

land:
135 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 13,940 sq km


land: 10,070 sq km


water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Connecticut
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. Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 18.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$NA

expenditures:
$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $918.5 million


expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY 99/00)
Capital The Settlement Nassau
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Coastline 138.9 km 3,542 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958 10 July 1973
Country name conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island

conventional short form:
Christmas Island
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas


conventional short form: The Bahamas
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $371.6 million (2001)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Robert M. WITAJEWSKI


embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau


mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370


telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)


FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS


chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668


consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Disputes - international none have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary with the US
Economic aid - recipient $NA $9.8 million (1995)
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. The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of most of the visitors.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 1.451 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 1.56 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Environment - current issues NA coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
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) Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1 (1998)
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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables
Exports - partners Australia, NZ US 39.1%, Germany 15.4%, Spain 10.8%, France 7.4%, Poland 4.6%, Switzerland 4.3% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 July - 30 June
Flag description the flag of Australia is used three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $4.59 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NA%

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
agriculture: 3%


industry: 7%


services: 90% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 0.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)

paved:
30 km

unpaved:
110 km (1999)
total: 2,693 km


paved: 1,546 km


unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners principally Australia US 20.3%, South Korea 20.1%, Germany 11.5%, Norway 11.5%, Japan 10%, Italy 7.2% (2002)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 10 July 1973 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Infant mortality rate NA deaths/1,000 live births total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 32.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 1.8% (2001 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 19 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Labor force NA 156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
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
arable land: 0.6%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 99% (1998 est.)
Languages English, Chinese, Malay English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on English common law
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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Life expectancy at birth total population:
NA years

male:
NA years

female:
NA years
total population: 65.71 years


male: 62.3 years


female: 69.18 years (2003 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95.6%


male: 94.7%


female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
12 NM

exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
3 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2000 est.) total: 1,090 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,065,778 GRT/46,202,085 DWT


ships by type: bulk 150, cargo 223, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 18, container 108, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, refrigerated cargo 135, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $20 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 0.7% (FY99)
National holiday NA Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Nationality noun:
Christmas Islander(s)

adjective:
Christmas Island
noun: Bahamian(s)


adjective: Bahamian
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Natural resources phosphate salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population -2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders none Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 2,771 (July 2001 est.) 297,477


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 7.77% (2001 est.) 0.77% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 1,000 (1997) -
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines 0 km
Religions Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
general assessment: modern facilities


domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed


international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 96,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 6,152 (1997)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (1997)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 6.9% (2001 est.)
Waterways none none
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