Christmas Island (2001) | Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) | |
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Administrative divisions | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Age structure | 0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
0-14 years: 31.3% (male 3,466/female 3,345)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 7,398/female 6,690) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 394/female 453) (2007 est.) |
Agriculture - products | NA | corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) | 8 (2007) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007) |
Area | total:
135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC | 2.5 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. | The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory. |
Birth rate | NA births/1,000 population | 21.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
Budget | revenues:
$NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.) |
Capital | The Settlement | name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October |
Climate | tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds | tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry |
Coastline | 138.9 km | 389 km |
Constitution | Christmas Island Act of 1958 | Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006) |
Country name | conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI |
Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) | - |
Death rate | NA deaths/1,000 population | 4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
Debt - external | $NA | $NA |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | overseas territory of the UK |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Disputes - international | none | have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder |
Economic aid - recipient | $NA | $4.1 million (1997) |
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 Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | 10.76 million kWh (2005) |
Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh (2005) |
Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh (2005) |
Electricity - production | NA kWh | 11.57 million kWh (2005) |
Electricity - production by source | 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: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater |
Ethnic groups | Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population | black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10% |
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) | the US dollar is used |
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 Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)
head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor |
Exports | $NA | 0 bbl/day (2004) |
Exports - commodities | phosphate | lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells |
Exports - partners | Australia, NZ | US, UK (2006) |
Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June | calendar year |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus |
GDP | 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 | - |
GDP - real growth rate | NA% | 4.9% (2000 est.) |
Geographic coordinates | 10 30 S, 105 40 E | 21 45 N, 71 35 W |
Geography - note | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean | about 40 islands (eight inhabited) |
Highways | total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999) |
- |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
Illicit drugs | - | transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe |
Imports | $NA | 83.55 bbl/day (2004) |
Imports - commodities | consumer goods | food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials |
Imports - partners | principally Australia | US, UK (2006) |
Independence | none (territory of Australia) | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) | tourism, offshore financial services |
Infant mortality rate | NA deaths/1,000 live births | total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | NA% | 4% (1995) |
International organization participation | none | Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 2 (2000) | - |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA |
Judicial branch | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court | Supreme Court; Court of Appeal |
Labor force | NA | 4,848 (1990 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) | note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services |
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: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005) |
Languages | English, Chinese, Malay | English (official) |
Legal system | under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law | based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas |
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 House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2 |
Life expectancy at birth | total population:
NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
total population: 74.95 years
male: 72.69 years female: 77.32 years (2007 est.) |
Literacy | - | definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.) |
Location | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia | Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Central America and the Caribbean |
Maritime claims | contiguous zone:
12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Merchant marine | none (2000 est.) | registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2007) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia | defense is the responsibility of the UK |
National holiday | NA | Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) |
Nationality | noun:
Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island |
noun: none
adjective: none |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | frequent hurricanes |
Natural resources | phosphate | spiny lobster, conch |
Net migration rate | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population | 9.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
People - note | - | destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US |
Political parties and leaders | none | People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK] |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | NA |
Population | 2,771 (July 2001 est.) | 21,746 (July 2007 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | 7.77% (2001 est.) | 2.722% (2007 est.) |
Ports and harbors | Flying Fish Cove | - |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003) |
Radios | 1,000 (1997) | - |
Railways | 24 km to serve phosphate mines | - |
Religions | Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) | Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) |
Sex ratio | - | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.036 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.106 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.073 male(s)/female (2007 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: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
Telephones - main lines in use | NA | 5,700 (2002) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 0 (1999) | 1,700 (1999) |
Television broadcast stations | NA | 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003) |
Terrain | steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau | low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps |
Total fertility rate | NA children born/woman | 3.02 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
Unemployment rate | NA% | 10% (1997 est.) |
Waterways | none | - |