Christmas Island (2001) | Christmas Island (2003) | |
Administrative divisions | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Age structure | 0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
Agriculture - products | NA | NA |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) | 1 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
Area | total:
135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
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. | 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. |
Birth rate | NA births/1,000 population | NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Budget | revenues:
$NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
Capital | The Settlement | The Settlement |
Climate | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
Coastline | 138.9 km | 80 km |
Constitution | Christmas Island Act of 1958 | NA |
Country name | conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island |
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) | Australian dollar (AUD) |
Death rate | NA deaths/1,000 population | NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Debt - external | $NA | $NA |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | $NA | $NA |
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. | 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. |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - production | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Ethnic groups | Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
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) | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (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 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 |
Exports | $NA | $NA |
Exports - commodities | phosphate | phosphate |
Exports - partners | Australia, NZ | Australia, NZ |
Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June | 1 July - 30 June |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | 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 |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $NA | purchasing power parity - $NA |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $NA | purchasing power parity - $NA |
GDP - real growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 10 30 S, 105 40 E | 10 30 S, 105 40 E |
Geography - note | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
Highways | total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999) |
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Imports | $NA | $NA |
Imports - commodities | consumer goods | consumer goods |
Imports - partners | principally Australia | principally Australia |
Independence | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
Infant mortality rate | NA deaths/1,000 live births | total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | NA% | NA% |
International organization participation | none | none |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 2 (2000) | 2 (2000) |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
Labor force | NA | NA |
Labor force - by occupation | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
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%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.) |
Languages | English, Chinese, Malay | English (official), Chinese, Malay |
Legal system | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian 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 |
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 |
Life expectancy at birth | total population:
NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
Literacy | - | NA |
Location | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | contiguous zone:
12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
Merchant marine | none (2000 est.) | none (2002 est.) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
National holiday | NA | NA |
Nationality | noun:
Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island |
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
Natural resources | phosphate | phosphate, beaches |
Net migration rate | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Political parties and leaders | none | none |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | none |
Population | 2,771 (July 2001 est.) | 433 (July 2003 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | 7.77% (2001 est.) | -9% (2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | Flying Fish Cove | Flying Fish Cove |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
Radios | 1,000 (1997) | - |
Railways | 24 km to serve phosphate mines | 24 km to serve phosphate mines |
Religions | Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) | Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
Sex ratio | - | NA (2003 est.) |
Telephone system | general assessment:
NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service |
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) |
Telephones - main lines in use | NA | NA |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 0 (1999) | NA |
Television broadcast stations | NA | NA |
Terrain | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
Total fertility rate | NA children born/woman | NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
Unemployment rate | NA% | NA% |
Waterways | none | none |