| 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. |
| Location: |
Southeastern
Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Map
references: |
Southeast Asia |
| Area: |
total:
135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about 0.7 times
the size of Washington, DC |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous
zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 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
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
| Natural
resources: |
phosphate |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
note: mainly tropical rainforest of which
60%-70% is in a national park |
| Natural
hazards: |
the narrow
fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard |
| Environment
- current issues: |
NA |
| Geography
- note: |
located along
major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| Population: |
2,771 (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% |
| Population
growth rate: |
7.77% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
NA births/1,000
population |
| Death
rate: |
NA deaths/1,000
population |
| Net
migration rate: |
NA migrant(s)/1,000
population |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
NA deaths/1,000
live births |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
NA children
born/woman |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
NA% |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Chinese 61%,
Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population |
| Religions: |
Buddhist 55%,
Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) |
| Languages: |
English, Chinese,
Malay |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Dependency
status: |
territory of
Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian
Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
| Administrative
divisions: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Independence: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Constitution: |
Christmas Island
Act of 1958 |
| 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: |
unicameral
Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to
be held NA December 2001)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats
- independents 9 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court;
District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
none |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
none |
| International
organization participation: |
none |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Flag
description: |
the flag of
Australia is used |
| 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 by union workers. With the
support of the government, Australian-based Casinos Austria
International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas
Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming
facilities at the casino were temporarily closed but were
expected to reopen in early 2000. Another economic prospect
is the possible location of a space-launching site on the
island. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $NA |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
NA% |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $NA |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
NA% |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
tourism 400
people, mining 100 people (1995) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: |
tourism,
phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
NA kWh |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
NA kWh |
| Agriculture
- products: |
NA |
| Exports
- commodities: |
phosphate |
| Exports
- partners: |
Australia, NZ |
| Imports
- commodities: |
consumer goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
principally
Australia |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Australian dollar
(AUD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Australian
dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173
(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
NA |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
0 (1999) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - one
Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 1,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
NA |
| Internet
country code: |
.cx |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Railways: |
24 km to serve
phosphate mines |
| Highways: |
total:
140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by private
industry)
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (1999) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Flying Fish Cove |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the
responsibility of Australia |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
