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Compare Christmas Island (2003) - Nauru (2003)

Compare Christmas Island (2003) z Nauru (2003)

 Christmas Island (2003)Nauru (2003)
 Christmas IslandNauru
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 2,517; female 2,368)


15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,681; female 3,779)


65 years and over: 1.8% (male 116; female 109) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products NA coconuts
Airports 1 (2002) 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


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


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 21 sq km


land: 21 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC about 0.1 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. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest independent republic.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $23.4 million


expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 95/96)
Capital The Settlement no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Coastline 80 km 30 km
Constitution NA 29 January 1968
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Republic of Nauru


conventional short form: Nauru


former: Pleasant Island
Currency Australian dollar (AUD) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $33.3 million
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074


consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $NA $2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)
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. Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years. Phosphate production has declined since 1989, as demand has fallen in traditional markets and as the marginal cost of extracting the remaining phosphate increases, making it less internationally competitive. While phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highest per capita incomes in the Third World, few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, including fresh water from Australia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income have been invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. The government has been borrowing heavily from the trusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government has called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations. Tens of billions of dollars have been channeled through their accounts. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 27.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production NA kWh 30 million 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: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Environment - current issues NA limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2641 (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: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of Parliament


elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 29 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: Ludwig SCOTTY elected president 29 May 2003; Ludwig SCOTTY 10 parliamentary votes, Kinza CLODUMAR 7


note: Ludwig SCOTTY was removed from the presidency in a no-confidence vote 8 August 2003; Rene HARRIS became president
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate phosphates
Exports - partners Australia, NZ India 46.1%, South Korea 18.3%, Australia 10.6%, New Zealand 7.8%, Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 July - 30 June
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 blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)
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 - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% NA%
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
total: 30 km


paved: 24 km


unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - broad-based money-laundering center
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners principally Australia Australia 59.3%, US 10.1%, Ireland 7.6%, Malaysia 6% (2002)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Infant mortality rate total: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
total: 10.33 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% -3.6% (1993)
International organization participation none ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Supreme Court
Labor force NA -
Labor force - by occupation tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation
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: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law acts of the Nauru Parliament and British 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 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)


elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May 2006)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Nauru First Party 3, independents 15
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2003 est.)
total population: 61.95 years


male: 58.41 years


female: 65.66 years (2003 est.)
Literacy NA definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 12 NM


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) none (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches - no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 3,190 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,762 (2003 est.)
National holiday NA Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Nauruan(s)


adjective: Nauruan
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard periodic droughts
Natural resources phosphate, beaches phosphates, fish
Net migration rate NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders none loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 433 (July 2003 est.) 12,570 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -9% (2003 est.) 1.9% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Nauru
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways 24 km to serve phosphate mines total: 5 km


note: gauge unknown; used to haul phosphates from the center of the island to processing facilities on the southwest coast (2001)
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Sex ratio NA (2003 est.) at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
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: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 2,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 450 (1994)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (1997)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2003 est.) 3.4 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 0%
Waterways none none
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