CHRISTMAS ISLAND
(territory of Australia)
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
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 Indian Ocean
PEOPLE
Population: 2,278 (July 1991), growth rate NA% (1991)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)
Nationality: noun--Christmas Islander(s), adjective--Christmas
Island
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%;
no indigenous population
Religion: 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)
Language: 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
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 A. D. TAYLOR (since NA)
Communists: none
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: 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 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, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 0%
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NA;
commodities--phosphate;
partners--Australia, NZ
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
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
Airports: 1 usable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 4,000 radios (1982)
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia