Map of Christmas Island | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: 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. The phosphate mine closed in 1987 was reopened four years later but the need for an alternative industry has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 135 km²
Land: 135 km²
Comparative: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 138.9 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Disputes: none

Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation

Natural resources: phosphate

Land use: arable land: 0%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 929 (July 1992), growth rate NA% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Christmas Islander(s; adjective - Christmas Island

Ethnic groups: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%; no indigenous population

Languages: English

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1000 population (1992)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: almost completely surrounded by a reef
Current issues note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1992)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island

Government type: territory of Australia

Capital: The Settlement

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958

Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch: none

Judicial branch: none

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism, with a possible opening date during the first half of 1992.
GDP: NA - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: NA

Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%

Labor force:
Organized labor: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $NA
Commodoties: phosphate
Partners: Australia, NZ

Imports: $NA
Commodoties: NA
Partners: NA

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3360 (January 1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987)


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Electricity
Production: 11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 13,170 kWh per capita (1990)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 usable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs