Christmas Island Population: 1,402
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean. | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 10 30 S, 105 40 E |
| Area: | total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: 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 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining |
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| People | |
| Population: | 1,402 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA |
| Median age: | |
| Population growth rate: | 0% (2008 est.) |
| Birth rate: | NA (2008 est.) |
| Death rate: | NA (2008 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | NA (2008 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | NA |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | NA (2008 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island |
| Ethnic groups: | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001) |
| Religions: | Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
| Languages: | English (official), Chinese, Malay |
| Literacy: | NA |
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| Government | |
| 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: | |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) elections: 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 four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) 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) |
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| Economy | |
| 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. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $NA |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | |
| GDP - real growth rate: | |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | |
| GDP - composition by sector: | |
| Labor force: | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation: | |
| Unemployment rate: | |
| Population below poverty line: | |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | |
| Budget: | revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA |
| Agriculture - products: | |
| Industries: | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Industrial production growth rate: | |
| Exports: | $NA |
| Exports - commodities: | phosphate |
| Imports: | $NA |
| Imports - commodities: | consumer goods |
| Debt - external: | |
| Currency (code): | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Exchange rates: | Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | NA |
| Cellular Phones in use: | |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006) |
| Internet country code: | .cx |
| Internet hosts: | 1,821 (2008) |
| Internet users: | 464 (2001) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 1 (2007) |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
| Roadways: | total: 140 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (2007) |
| Ports and terminals: | Flying Fish Cove |
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| Military | |
| Defense is the responsibility of Australia | |
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook