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Compare Christmas Island (2002) - French Polynesia (2003)

Compare Christmas Island (2002) z French Polynesia (2003)

 Christmas Island (2002)French Polynesia (2003)
 Christmas IslandFrench Polynesia
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent


note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)


15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products NA coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee
Airports 1 (2001) 45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 37


over 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 22


under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 8


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)


land: 3,660 sq km


water: 507 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than one-third the size of 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. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $1 billion


expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
Capital The Settlement Papeete
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical, but moderate
Coastline 80 km 2,525 km
Constitution NA 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia


conventional short form: French Polynesia


local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise


local short form: Polynesie Francaise


former: French Colony of Oceania
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $NA
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services overseas territory of France since 1946
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) none (overseas territory of France)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $367 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. 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. Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 398.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 428.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: NA%


hydro: NA%


nuclear: NA%


other: NA%
fossil fuel: 60.7%


hydro: 39.3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


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


highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Environment - current issues NA NA
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)


note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
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: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)


head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners Australia, NZ France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description 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 two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 6%


industry: 18%


services: 76% (1997)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
Highways total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry)


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 110 km (1999)
total: 2,590 km


paved: 1,735 km


unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners principally Australia France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002)
Independence none (territory of Australia) none (overseas territory of France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Infant mortality rate NA deaths/1,000 live births total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 1.5%
International organization participation none ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
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 Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Labor force NA 70,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
arable land: 1.64%


permanent crops: 6.01%


other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay French (official), Tahitian (official)
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on French system
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms)


elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats - changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1


note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 75.45 years


male: 73.08 years


female: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 14 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1977 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches - no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
National holiday NA Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: French Polynesian(s)


adjective: French Polynesian
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard occasional cyclonic storms in January
Natural resources phosphate, beaches timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population 2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders none Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 474 (July 2002 est.) 262,125 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -9% (2002 est.) 1.62% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios 1,000 (1997) -
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines 0 km
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 5,427 (1997)
Television broadcast stations NA 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 2.14 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 11.8% (1994)
Waterways none none
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