Map of Christmas Island | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 135 km²
Land: 135 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 138.9 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation
Highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: phosphate, beaches

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Geography
Note: located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean


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Population
Distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island: 2,205 (2016 est.)
Growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Christmas Islander(s)
Adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)
Note: no indigenous population

Languages: 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

Religions: 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.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 12.79% (male 147/female 135)
15-64 years: 12.2% (male 202/female 67)
65 years and over: 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA

Median age

Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate

Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Air pollutants

Sex ratio: NA

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA

Current health expenditure: NA

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: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
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

Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Capital
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

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Constitution
History: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
Amendments: amended many times, last in 2020

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see Australia

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
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: Administrator Ms. Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
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

Legislative branch
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 2023 (next to be held in October 2025)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of October 2023 - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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)

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)
From the us embassy: none (territory of Australia)

Flag description: 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

National symbols: golden bosun bird

National anthem
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 heritage


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Economy overview: 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity: NA

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: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate

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

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
Partners: Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019)
Commodities: calcium phosphates, fertilizers, barometers, electrical transformers, sulfates (2021)

Imports: NA
Partners: Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)

Internet
Country code: .cx
Users total: 1,139 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 78.6% (2021 est.)

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 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
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
Total: 142 km (2011)
Paved: 32 km (2011)
Unpaved: 110 km (2011)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Flying Fish Cove


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs