Christmas Island Geography

Total area:
135 km2

Land area:
135 km2

Comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
none

Coastline:
138.9 km

Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes:
none

Climate:
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain:
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Natural resources:
phosphate

Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Environment:
almost completely surrounded by a reef

Note:
located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

Christmas Island People

Population:
929 (July 1992), growth rate NA% (1992)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (1992)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (1992)

Net migration rate:
NA migrants/1,000 population (1992)

Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth:
NA years male, NA years female (1992)

Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (1992)

Nationality:
noun - Christmas Islander(s); adjective - Christmas Island

Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%; no indigenous population

Religions:
Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)

Languages:
English

Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Labor force:
NA; all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

Organized labor:
NA

Christmas Island Government

Long-form name:
Territory of Christmas Island

Type:
territory of Australia

Capital:
The Settlement

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

National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch:
none

Judicial branch:
none

Leaders:

Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

Head of Government:
Administrator W. A. MCKENZIE (since NA)

Member of:
none

Diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)

Flag:
the flag of Australia is used

Christmas Island Economy

Overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism, with a possible opening date during the first half of 1992.

GDP:
NA - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exports:
$NA

commodities:
phosphate

partners:
Australia, New Zealand

Imports:
$NA

commodities:
NA

partners:
NA

External debt:
$NA

Industrial production:
growth rate NA%

Electricity:
11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 13,170 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries:
phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Agriculture:
NA

Economic aid:
none

Currency:
Australian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents. Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3360 (January 1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Christmas Island Communications

Ports:
Flying Fish Cove

Airports:
1 useable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications:
4,000 radios (1982)

Christmas Island Defence Forces

Note:
defence is the responsibility of Australia.

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