ARCHIVE // CX // 2008

Christmas Island

2008 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.cx
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
1,821 (2008)
Internet users [time series]
464 (2001)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
NA
Budget [time series]
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]
Australian dollar (AUD)
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, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
Exports [time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
phosphate
Exports - partners [time series]
Australia, NZ (2006)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$NA
Imports [time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
consumer goods
Imports - partners [time series]
principally Australia (2006)
Industries [time series]
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; 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]
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
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
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references [time series]
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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]
name: The Settlement geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution [time series]
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status [time series]
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
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 Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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 note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
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 four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
National holiday [time series]
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
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 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.
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 (2008 est.)
Death rate [time series]
NA (2008 est.)
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]
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy [time series]
NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate [time series]
NA (2008 est.)
Population [time series]
1,402 (July 2007 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0% (2008 est.)
Religions [time series]
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Flying Fish Cove
Roadways [time series]
total: 140 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (2007)