ARCHIVE // CX // 2002

Christmas Island

2002 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: 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)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
NA
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. 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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production [time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other: NA% nuclear: NA%
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
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 water: 0 sq km land: 135 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]
80 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: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
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: 12 NM
Natural hazards [time series]
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources [time series]
phosphate, beaches
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]
NA
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
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; 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
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) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)
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. 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 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
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 (official), Chinese, Malay
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA years female: NA years male: NA years
Literacy [time series]
NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate [time series]
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population [time series]
474 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
-9% (2002 est.)
Religions [time series]
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
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 (2002 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Flying Fish Cove
Railways [time series]
24 km to serve phosphate mines
Waterways [time series]
none