Background: Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery the island was annexed and settlement began 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: Oceania

Area
Total: 135 km²
Rank: 221
Land: 135 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 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
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% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

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: 1402 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 233
Growth rate: 0% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 196

Nationality
Noun: Christmas Islander
Adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups: Chinese 70% European 20% Malay 10%
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: 0% (2010 est.)
Rank: 196

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

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

Sex ratio: NA (2009 est.)

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

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

Total fertility rate: NA

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
Name: The Settlement
Geographic coordinates: 10 25 S 105 43 E
Time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Australia Day 26 January (1788)

Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II represented by the Australian governor general
Head of government: Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2009 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

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: 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 anthem
Note: as a territory of Australia 'Advance Australia Fair' remains official as the national anthem while 'God Save the Queen' serves as the royal anthem

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 but closed in 1998.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $NA

Agriculture products: NA

Industries: tourism phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Labor force: NA

Exports: $NA
Commodities: phosphate

Imports: $NA
Commodities: consumer goods

Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.1151 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006)

Telephones
Main lines in use: NA

Telephone system
General assessment: service provided by the Australian network
Domestic: GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
International: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)

Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and television stations are received via satellite (2009)

Internet
Country code: .cx
Hosts: 2,542 (2010)
Hosts rank: 149
Users: 464 (2001)
Users rank: 216

Airports: 1 (2010)
Rank: 235
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2010)

Railways
Total: 18 km
Rank: 133
Standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)

Roadways
Total: 140 km
Rank: 210
Paved: 30 km
Unpaved: 110 km (2007)

Ports and terminals: Flying Fish Cove

Disputes international: none