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| 1. CIA World Factbook 2002 | ||
Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island
-----------------------------
Background: Named in 1643 for the day of its
discovery, the island was annexed
and settlement was begun by the UK
in 1888. Phosphate mining began in
the 1890s. The UK transferred
sovereignty to Australia in 1958.
Almost two-thirds of the island has
been declared a national park.
Geography Christmas Island
--------------------------
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the
Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; 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%
note: mainly tropical rainforest;
63% of the island is a national park
(1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding
the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of
Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
-----------------------
Population: 474 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: -9% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years
female: NA years
male: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
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
Government Christmas Island
---------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of
Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas
Island
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered
by the Australian Department of
Transport and Regional Services
Government type: NA
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: NA
Legal system: under the authority of the governor
general of Australia and Australian
law
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952), represented
by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator
William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4
February 1999)
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia
and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire
Council (9 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve one-year
terms)
election results: percent of vote -
NA%; seats - independents 9
elections: last held NA December
2001 (next to be held NA December
2002)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; District Court;
Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and none
leaders:
International organization none
participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the none (territory of Australia)
US:
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used; note
- in early 1986, the Christmas
Island Assembly held a design
competition for an island flag,
however, the winning design has
never been formally adopted as the
official flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
------------------------
Economy - overview: Phosphate mining had been the only
significant economic activity, but
in December 1987 the Australian
Government closed the mine. In 1991,
the mine was reopened. With the
support of the government, a $34
million casino opened in 1993. The
casino closed in 1998. The
Australian Government in 2001 agreed
to support the creation of a
commercial space-launching site on
the island, slated to begin
operation in 2003.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100
people (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near
depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: NA
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: phosphate
Exports - partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: consumer goods
Imports - partners: principally Australia
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code: AUD
Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar -
1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320
(2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497
(1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
-------------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: service provided
by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile
telephone service is available
international: satellite earth
stations - one Intelsat earth
station provides telephone and telex
service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 600 (1997)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Christmas Island
-------------------------------
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways: total: 140 km (not including 100 km
that is maintained by private
industry)
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Christmas Island
-------------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
-------------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
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