Australia-Oceania :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- ## Introduction :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Background:
  Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888 with the discovery of the island's phosphate deposits. Following the Second World War, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. The island existed as a separate Crown colony from 1 January 1958 to 1 October 1958 when its transfer to Australian jurisdiction was finalized. That date is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

- ## Geography :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Location:
  Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
  Geographic coordinates:
  10 30 S, 105 40 E
  Map references:
  Southeast Asia
  Area:
  total: 135 sq km
  land: 135 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 222
  Area - comparative:
  about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  138.9 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 12 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
  Terrain:
  steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
  Natural resources:
  phosphate, beaches
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 0%
  arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
  other: 100% (mainly tropical reainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
  Environment - current issues:
  loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
  Geography - note:
  located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

- ## People and Society :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Nationality:
  noun: Christmas Islander(s)
  adjective: Christmas Island
  Ethnic groups:
  Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
  note: no indigenous population (2001)
  Languages:
  English (official), Chinese, Malay
  Religions:
  Christian 23.1%, Buddhist 16.8%, Muslim 14.8%, Hindu 0.4%, none 9.2% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  1,530 (July 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 233
  Population growth rate:
  1.11% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Sex ratio:
  NA (2009 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: NA
  male: NA
  female: NA
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: NA
  male: NA
  female: NA
  Total fertility rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

- ## Government :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
  conventional short form: Christmas Island
  Dependency status:
  non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
  Government type:
  NA
  Capital:
  name: The Settlement
  geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
  time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  none (territory of Australia)
  Independence:
  none (territory of Australia)
  National holiday:
  Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
  Constitution:
  1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times, last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2010)
  Legal system:
  legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since28 March 2014)
  head of government: Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)
  elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held In 2011 (next to be held in 2013)
  election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
  Political parties and leaders:
  none
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  none
  International organization participation:
  none
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (territory of Australia)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (territory of Australia)
  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; the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
  note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
  National symbol(s):
  golden bosun bird
  National anthem:
  note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)

- ## Economy :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Economy - overview:
  The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and more recently the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine and defense.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $NA
  Agriculture - products:
  NA
  Industries:
  tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
  Labor force:
  NA
  Budget:
  revenues: $NA
  expenditures: $NA
  Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June
  Exports:
  $NA
  Exports - commodities:
  phosphate
  Imports:
  $NA
  Imports - commodities:
  consumer goods
  Exchange rates:
  Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
  1.098 (2014)
  1.0358 (2013)
  0.97 (2012)
  0.9695 (2011)
  1.0902 (2010)

- ## Communications :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Telephone system:
  general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
  domestic: GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
  international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
  Broadcast media:
  1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2009)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
  Television broadcast stations:
  0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
  Internet country code:
  .cx
  Internet users:
  total: 464
  percent of population: 16.7% (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 217

- ## Transportation :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Airports:
  1 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 18 km
  standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Roadways:
  total: 140 km
  paved: 30 km
  unpaved: 110 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove

- ## Military :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of Australia

- ## Transnational Issues :: CHRISTMAS ISLAND

- Disputes - international:
  none