Christmas Island Population: 1,496
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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 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. |
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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: | 1,496 (July 2010 est.) |
| Age structure: | |
| Median age: | |
| Population growth rate: | 1.136% (2010 est.) |
| Birth rate: | -9 births/1,000 population |
| Death rate: | -9 deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate: | NA |
| Sex ratio: | NA (2009 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: NA male: NA female: NA |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA male: NA female: NA |
| Total fertility rate: | NA |
| 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: | legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012) elections: 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 two year term 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 In 2011 (next to be held in 2013) 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 | |
| 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 includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine and defense. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | 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: | NA |
| Industries: | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Industrial production growth rate: | |
| Exports: | $NA |
| Exports - commodities: | phosphate |
| Imports: | $NA |
| Imports - commodities: | consumer goods |
| Debt - external: | |
| Exchange rates: | Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.963 (2012) 0.9695 (2011) 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | |
| Cellular Phones in use: | |
| Telephone system: | 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .cx |
| Internet hosts: | 3,028 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 464 (2001) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 223 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012) |
| Railways: | total: 18 km standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010) |
| 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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