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Compare Christmas Island (2006) - Spratly Islands (2002)

Compare Christmas Island (2006) z Spratly Islands (2002)

 Christmas Island (2006)Spratly Islands (2002)
 Christmas IslandSpratly Islands
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) -
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
-
Agriculture - products NA -
Airports 1 (2006) 4 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
Area - comparative about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC NA
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began 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. This archipelago - surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits - is claimed in its entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. All five parties occupy certain islands or reefs.
Birth rate NA -
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
-
Capital name: The Settlement


geographic coordinates: 18 44 N, 64 19 W


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
-
Climate tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season (December to April) tropical
Coastline 138.9 km 926 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 -
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Death rate NA -
Dependency status non-self governing territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) -
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) -
Disputes - international none all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island; in 2000, China joined ASEAN discussions towards creating a South China Sea "code of conduct" - a non-legally binding confidence building measure
Economic aid - recipient $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. 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. Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Environment - current issues loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining NA
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
-
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001) -
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
-
Exports $NA -
Exports - commodities phosphate -
Exports - partners Australia, NZ (2004) -
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June -
Flag description territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flag of Australia is used for official purposes -
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Imports $NA -
Imports - commodities consumer goods -
Imports - partners principally Australia (2004) -
Independence none (territory of Australia) -
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) -
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
-
International organization participation none -
Irrigated land NA 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court -
Labor force NA -
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay -
Legal system 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 four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
-
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
-
Literacy NA -
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references Southeast Asia Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
NA
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) -
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
-
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Natural resources phosphate, beaches fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Net migration rate NA -
Political parties and leaders none -
Political pressure groups and leaders none -
Population 1,493 (July 2006 est.) no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate 0% (2006 est.) -
Ports and harbors - none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006) -
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) -
Sex ratio NA -
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 - 61-8; satellite earth stations - one INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
-
Telephones - main lines in use NA -
Telephones - mobile cellular NA -
Television broadcast stations 0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia (2006) -
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau flat
Total fertility rate NA -
Waterways - none
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