Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces

CHRISTMAS ISLAND

 (territory of Australia) 

@Christmas Island:Geography

 Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
 Indonesia

 Map references: Southeast Asia

 Area:
 total area: 135 sq km
 land area: 135 sq km
 comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC

 Land boundaries: 0 km

 Coastline: 138.9 km

 Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone: 12 nm
 exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
 territorial sea: 3 nm

 International 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%

 Irrigated land: NA sq km

 Environment:
 current issues: NA
 natural hazards: almost completely surrounded by a reef which can be a
 maritime hazard
 international agreements: NA

 Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

@Christmas Island:People

 Population: 889 (July 1995 est.)

 Age structure:
 0-14 years: NA
 15-64 years: NA
 65 years and over: NA

 Population growth rate: -9% (1995 est.)

 Birth rate: NA

 Death rate: NA

 Net migration rate: NA

 Infant mortality rate: NA

 Life expectancy at birth:
 total population: NA
 male: NA
 female: NA

 Total fertility rate: NA

 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

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

@Christmas Island:Government

 Names:
 conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
 conventional short form: Christmas Island

 Digraph: KT

 Type: territory of Australia

 Capital: The Settlement

 Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

 Independence: none (territory of Australia)

 National holiday: NA

 Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958

 Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia

 Executive branch:
 chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 head of government: Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
 cabinet: Advisory Council

 Legislative branch: none

 Judicial branch: none

 Political parties and leaders: none

 Member of: none

 Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

 US 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.

 National product: GDP $NA

 National product real growth rate: NA%

 National product per capita: $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, NZ

 Imports: $NA
 commodities: consumer goods
 partners: principally Australia

 External debt: $NA

 Industrial production: growth rate NA%

 Electricity:
 capacity: 11,000 kW
 production: 30 million kWh
 consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)

 Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)

 Agriculture: NA

 Economic aid: none

 Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

 Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991),
 1.2799 (1990)

 Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Christmas Island:Transportation

 Railroads: 0 km

 Highways:
 total: NA km
 paved: NA km
 unpaved: NA km

 Ports: Flying Fish Cove

 Merchant marine: none

 Airports:
 total: 1
 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

@Christmas Island:Communications

 Telephone system: NA telephones
 local: NA
 intercity: NA
 international: NA

 Radio:
 broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
 radios: NA

 Television:
 broadcast stations: 1
 televisions: NA

@Christmas Island:Defense Forces

 Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia


________________________________________________________________________