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.
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Southeast Asia
total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
0 km
138.9 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
phosphate, beaches
agricultural land: 0%
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
other: 100% (mainly tropical reainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011 est.)
NA
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
2,205 (July 2016 est.)
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Buddhist 16.9%, Christian 16.4%, Muslim 14.8%, other 1.3%, none 9.2%, unspecified 41.5% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 12.79% (male 147/female 135)
15-24 years: 12.2% (male 202/female 67)
25-54 years: 57.91% (male 955/female 322)
55-64 years: 11.66% (male 172/female 85)
65 years and over: 5.44% (male 84/female 36) (2016 est.)
1.11% (2014 est.)
NA
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its discovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643)
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times, last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2016)
legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
see Australia
18 years of age
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since28 March 2014)
head of government: Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
elections/appointments: 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 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)
elections: held every 2 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
highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
none
none
none
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
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
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
golden bosun bird
note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
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 inclu
$NA
NA
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
NA
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
1 July - 30 June
$NA
phosphate
$NA
consumer goods
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.352 (2016 est.)
1.3291 (2015 est.)
1.3291 (2014 est.)
0.9695 (2013 est.)
0.9695 (2012 est.)
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
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)
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2009)
.cx
total: 790
percent of population: 35.8% (July 2015 est.)
1 (2013)
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 18 km
standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)
total: 140 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (2011)
major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
defense is the responsibility of Australia
none
