Background: Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888 with the discovery of the island's phosphate deposits. Following the Second World War Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. The island existed as a separate Crown colony from 1 January 1958 to 1 October 1958 when its transfer to Australian jurisdiction was finalized. That date is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S 105 40 E

Area
Rank: 222
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
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 highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources: phosphate beaches

Land use
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011)

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: 1513 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 235
Growth rate: 1.12% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 106

Nationality
Adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups: Chinese 70% European 20% Malay 10%

Languages: English (official) Chinese Malay

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

Population growth rate: 1.12% (2013 est.)
Rank: 106

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

Sex ratio: NA (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Male: NA
Female: NA

Life expectancy at birth
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 short form: Christmas Island

Government type: NA

Capital
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: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2010)

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
Head of government: Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
Elections: 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 two-year term 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 In 2011 (next to be held in 2013)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9

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

National symbols: golden bosun bird

Economy overview: The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate limited tourism the provision of government services and more recently the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration health education policing customs quarantine and defense.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $N/A

Agriculture products: NA

Industries: tourism phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Labor force: NA

Budget
Expenditures: $N/A

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Exports: $N/A
Commodities: phosphate

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: consumer goods

Exchange rates:

Telephone system
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; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2009)

Internet
Country code: .cx
Hosts: 3,028 (2012)
Hosts rank: 155
Users: 464 (2001)
Users rank: 217

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 223
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)

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

Roadways
Rank: 211
Paved: 30 km
Unpaved: 110 km (2011)

Disputes international: none