ARCHIVE // CX // 2001

Christmas Island

2001 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
2 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.cx
Internet users [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
1,000 (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
0 (1999)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
NA
Televisions [time series]
600 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
NA
Budget [time series]
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Australian dollar (AUD)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
AUD
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 by union workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a space-launching site on the island.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)
Exports [time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
phosphate
Exports - partners [time series]
Australia, NZ
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $NA
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
consumer goods
Imports - partners [time series]
principally Australia
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline [time series]
138.9 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note [time series]
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA% note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a national park
Location [time series]
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references [time series]
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims [time series]
contiguous zone: 12 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Natural hazards [time series]
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources [time series]
phosphate
Terrain [time series]
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Capital [time series]
The Settlement
Constitution [time series]
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch [time series]
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
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Australia is used
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation [time series]
none
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Legal system [time series]
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
National holiday [time series]
NA
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
none
Introduction
Background [time series]
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. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987, was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored, and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Birth rate [time series]
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate [time series]
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups [time series]
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
English, Chinese, Malay
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Nationality [time series]
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate [time series]
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population [time series]
2,771 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
7.77% (2001 est.)
Religions [time series]
Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Merchant marine [time series]
none (2000 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Flying Fish Cove
Railways [time series]
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Waterways [time series]
none