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Christmas Island

2022 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 (2016 est.) percent of population: 36% (2016 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: internet access on Christmas Island is provided by satellite; improvements through the Regional Connectivity Program to the macro and small cell mobile sites will provide new and improved mobile, voice and data connectivity for residents and visitors; the upgrade will also support local businesses and community facilities, enabling increased residential access to essential services such as telehealth and education (2022) domestic: improvements to Christmas Island include an upgrade to the macro cell base stations and deploy a new macro cell base station at the airport (2022) 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 [time series]
NA
Budget [time series]
revenues: NA expenditures: NA
Economic 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 - commodities [time series]
calcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019)
Exports - partners [time series]
Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Imports [time series]
NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019)
Imports - partners [time series]
Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019)
Industries [time series]
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Labor force [time series]
NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
NA
Environment
Climate [time series]
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Environment - current issues [time series]
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 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]
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
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]
total: 0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 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 2020
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 Infrastructure, Transport, Cities Regional Development
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019) head of government: Acting Administrator Sarah VANDENBROEK (since 4 October 2022) cabinet: NA 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]
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)
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) elections: held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2021 (next to be held in October 2023) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2021 - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1%
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 King" 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 sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore. Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it. In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island and the migrants claimed refugee status since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.
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) 15-24 years: 12.2% (male 202/female 67) 25-54 years: 57.91% (male 955/female 322) 55-64 years: 11.66% (male 172/female 85) 65 years and over: 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
NA
Current health expenditure [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) note: no indigenous population
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA 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 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]
total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
Railways [time series]
total: 18 km (2017) standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation) 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: 142 km (2011) paved: 32 km (2011) unpaved: 110 km (2011)