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Compare Christmas Island (2005) - Korea, North (2003)

Compare Christmas Island (2005) z Korea, North (2003)

 Christmas Island (2005)Korea, North (2003)
 Christmas IslandKorea, North
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Najin Sonbong-si*, Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 25% (male 2,845,727; female 2,763,800)


15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,485,310; female 7,746,603)


65 years and over: 7.2% (male 541,155; female 1,083,886) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products NA rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 72 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 34


over 3,047 m: 5


2,438 to 3,047 m: 18


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 18


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 120,540 sq km


land: 120,410 sq km


water: 130 sq km
Area - comparative about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Mississippi
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. Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western-oriented. KIM Chong-il has ruled North Korea since his father and the country's founder, president KIM Il-song, died in 1994. After decades of mismanagement, the North relies heavily on international food aid to feed its population while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raising fears it would produce nuclear weapons.
Birth rate NA 17.61 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 Pyongyang
Climate tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Coastline 138.9 km 2,495 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea


conventional short form: North Korea


local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk


local short form: none


note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country


abbreviation: DPRK
Currency - North Korean won (KPW)
Death rate NA 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external - $12 billion (1996 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US as consular protecting power)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Disputes - international none with China, certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers are in uncontested dispute; a section of boundary around Paektu-san (mountain) is indefinite; China objects to illegal migration of North Koreans into northern China; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953
Economic aid - recipient NA $NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental organizations
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, projected to begin operations in the near future North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its tenth year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land; collective farming; weather-related problems, including major drought in 2000; and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to escape mass starvation since 1995-96, but the population remains the victim of prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has placed emphasis on earning hard currency, developing information technology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid, but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over key national assets or undergoing widespread market-oriented reforms. In 2003, heightened political tensions with key donor countries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow of desperately needed food aid and have threatened fuel aid as well.
Electricity - consumption - 27.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production - 30.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 29%


hydro: 71%


nuclear: 0%


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


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m


highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Environment - current issues NA water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements - party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000) official: North Korean won per US dollar - 150 (December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 300-600 (December 2002), 200 (December 2001)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state: KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - on 3 September 2003, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority"; KIM Yong-nam was reelected President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials


head of government: Premier PAK Pong-chu (since 3 September 2003); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom-ki (since 5 September 1998), CHON Sung-hun (since 3 September 2003), NO Tu-chol (since 3 September 2003)


cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly


elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA)


election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA%
Exports NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphate minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments); textiles and fishery products
Exports - partners Australia, NZ China 23.5%, Japan 19.9%, Costa Rica 12.4%, Brazil 6.5% (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 three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
GDP - purchasing power parity - $22.26 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 30.4%


industry: 32.3%


services: 37.3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
total: 31,200 km


paved: 1,997 km


unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
Imports - partners principally Australia China 24.9%, Brazil 12.1%, India 9.2%, Thailand 9.2%, Germany 7.8%, Japan 7.1%, Singapore 4.5%, Qatar 4% (2002)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Industrial production growth rate - NA%
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 27.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - NA%
International organization participation none ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 14,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Labor force NA 9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation NA agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,673 km


border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
arable land: 14.12%


permanent crops: 2.49%


other: 83.39% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Korean
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 70.79 years


male: 68.1 years


female: 73.61 years (2003 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean


total population: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99%
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Map references Southeast Asia Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


note: military boundary line 50 NM in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Merchant marine - total: 149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 881,276 GRT/1,309,547 DWT


ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 120, combination bulk 2, container 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $5,217.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 33.9% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 6,103,615 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 3,654,223 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 180,875 (2003 est.)
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Korean(s)


adjective: Korean
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Natural resources phosphate, beaches coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Net migration rate NA 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
People - note the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census -
Pipelines - oil 136 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders none Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong-tae, chairman]; major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 361 (July 2005 est.) 22,466,481 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate 0% (2005 est.) 1.07% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Railways - total: 5,214 km


standard gauge: 4,549 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)


note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage - 17 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Telephones - main lines in use NA 1.1 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA NA
Television broadcast stations NA 38 (1999)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Total fertility rate NA 2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate - NA%
Waterways - 2,253 km


note: mostly navigable by small craft only
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