ARCHIVE // CX // 2019

Christmas Island

2019 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code [time series]
.cx
Internet users [time series]
total: 790 | percent of population: 35.8% (July 2016 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network | domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network | international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
NA
Budget [time series]
revenues: NA | expenditures: NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - | 1.311 (2017 est.) | 1.3442 (2016 est.) | 1.3442 (2015) | 1.3291 (2014 est.) | 1.1094 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
phosphate
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
NA
Imports [time series]
NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
consumer goods
Industries [time series]
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
(31 December 2009 est.)
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 [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 the Indian Ocean
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (2011 est.)
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
Population distribution [time series]
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
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 (Flying Fish Cove) | geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E | time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: self-descriptive name for the main locus of population
Citizenship [time series]
see Australia
Constitution [time series]
history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958) | amendments: amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island | conventional short form: Christmas Island | etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615
Dependency status [time series]
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
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 Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014) | head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018) | 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
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; 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]
non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Independence [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation [time series]
none
Judicial branch [time series]
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)
Legal system [time series]
legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch [time series]
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 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 21 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2015 - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2%
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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)
National holiday [time series]
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
National symbol(s) [time series]
golden bosun bird
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age
Introduction
Background [time series]
Although Europeans had sighted the island at least as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 for the day of its rediscovery. 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.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 12.79% (male 147/female 135) (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 12.2% (male 202/female 67) (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 57.91% (male 955/female 322) (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 11.66% (male 172/female 85) (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Australia - Oceania :: Christmas Island Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Christmas Island. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Ethnic groups [time series]
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) | note: 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]
total: NA (2018) | male: NA | female: NA
Languages [time series]
English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.) | note: data represent language spoken at home
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA (2017 est.) | male: NA | female: NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Christmas Islander(s) | adjective: Christmas Island
Population [time series]
2,205 (2016 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Population growth rate [time series]
1.11% (2014 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 (2019) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
Railways [time series]
total: 18 km (2017) | standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2017) | note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place
Roadways [time series]
total: 140 km (2011) | paved: 30 km (2011) | unpaved: 110 km (2011)