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]

percent of population: 78.6% (2016 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections

Exchange rates [time series]

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Exports - partners [time series]

Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Imports - commodities [time series]

aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners [time series]

USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industries [time series]

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Climate [time series]

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Environmental issues [time series]

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)

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, D.C.

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

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: Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886

Citizenship [time series]

see Australia

Constitution [time series]

history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)

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); Europeans had sighted the island 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 Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024) head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023) cabinet: NA election/appointment process: 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 [time series]

description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper left to lower right; the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird; the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia; a centered yellow disk displays a green outline 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]

system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

Legislative branch [time series]

legislature name: Christmas Island Shire Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 9 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: independent (9) percentage of women in chamber: 13% expected date of next election: October 2025

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "Advance Australia Fair" lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK history: national anthem, as an Australian territory _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory

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 [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age

Background [time series]

Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in 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 company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate 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 because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.6% 15-64 years: 70.4% 65 years and over: 13% (2021)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) note: no indigenous population

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

Median age [time series]

total: 38 years (2021 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island

Population [time series]

total: 1,692 (2021 est.) male: 1,007 female: 685

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.)

Airports [time series]

1 (2025)

Ports [time series]

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: 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