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. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S 105 40 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 135 km²
Water: 0 km²
Land: 135 km²
Comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 80 km

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

Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources: phosphate beaches

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100%
Note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA km²

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

Geography
Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

Population: 474 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: -9% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Christmas Islander
Adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups
Note: no indigenous population (2001)

Languages: English (official) Chinese Malay

Religions: Buddhist 36% Muslim 25% Christian 18% other 21% (1997)

Age structure
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%

Population growth rate: -9% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population

Environment
Current issues: NA

Sex ratio: NA

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births

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

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA%
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
Conventional short form: Christmas Island

Government type: NA

Capital: The Settlement

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: NA

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
Head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch
Election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Elections: last held NA December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

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

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986 the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag however the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory

Economy overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991 the mine was reopened. With the support of the government a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island slated to begin operation in 2003.

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: NA

Industries: tourism phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA
By occupation: tourism 400 people mining 100 people (1995)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $NA
Expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: NA%

Exports: $NA
Commodities: phosphate
Partners: Australia NZ

Imports: $NA
Commodities: consumer goods
Partners: principally Australia

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002) 1.9320 (2001) 1.7173 (2000) 1.5497 (1999) 1.5888 (1998) 1.3439 (1997)

Electricity
Production: NA kWh
Production by source fossil fuel: NA%
Production by source hydro: NA%
Production by source other: NA%
Production by source nuclear: NA%
Consumption: NA kWh

Telephones
Main lines in use: NA
Mobile cellular: NA

Telephone system
General assessment: service provided by the Australian network
Domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
International: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)

Internet
Country code: .cx
Service providers isps: 2 (2000)
Users: NA

Airports: 1 (2001)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)

Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines

Waterways: none

Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)

Disputes international: none