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Guide
Introduction
| |
| 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. The phosphate mine, closed in 1987,
was reopened four years later, but the need for an alternative industry
has spurred investment in tourism. Old mining areas are being restored,
and almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. |
| 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
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about 0.7 times the size of
Washington, DC |
| 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 |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
| Natural
resources: |
phosphate |
| Land
use: |
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
note: mainly tropical rainforest of which 60%-70% is in a
national park |
| 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 |
| Population: |
2,771 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% |
| Population
growth rate: |
7.77% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
NA births/1,000 population |
| Death
rate: |
NA deaths/1,000 population |
| Net
migration rate: |
NA migrant(s)/1,000
population |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
NA deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
NA children born/woman |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
NA% |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun: Christmas
Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%,
European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population |
| Religions: |
Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%,
Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991) |
| Languages: |
English, Chinese, Malay |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
| Dependency
status: |
territory of Australia;
administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the
Environment, Sport, and Territories |
| 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 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)
elections: last held NA December 2000 (next to be held NA
December 2001)
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) |
| Flag
description: |
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. In 1991, the mine was reopened by union
workers. With the support of the government, Australian-based Casinos
Austria International Ltd. built a $34 million casino on Christmas
Island, which opened in 1993. As of yearend 1999, gaming facilities at
the casino were temporarily closed but were expected to reopen in early
2000. Another economic prospect is the possible location of a
space-launching site on the island. |
| 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 percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
NA% |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
tourism 400 people, mining
100 people (1995) |
| 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%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
NA kWh |
| Agriculture
- products: |
NA |
| Exports
- commodities: |
phosphate |
| Exports
- partners: |
Australia, NZ |
| Imports
- commodities: |
consumer goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
principally Australia |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Australian dollars per US
dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888
(1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
NA |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
0 (1999) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat
earth station provides telephone and telex service |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
(1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
NA |
| Internet
country code: |
.cx |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| 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) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Flying Fish Cove |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the responsibility
of Australia |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
