| Christmas Island |
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| Introduction | Christmas Island |
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Background:
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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 |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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10 30 S, 105 40 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 135 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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80 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April |
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Terrain:
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steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphate, beaches |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
| People | Christmas Island |
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Population:
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361 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA |
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Population growth rate:
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0% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA |
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Death rate:
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NA |
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Net migration rate:
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NA |
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Sex ratio:
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NA |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA
male: NA female: NA |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA
female: NA male: NA |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
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Religions:
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Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) |
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Languages:
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English (official), Chinese, Malay |
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Literacy:
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NA |
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People - note:
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census |
| Government | Christmas Island |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island |
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Dependency status:
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territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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The Settlement |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Independence:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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National holiday:
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Australia Day, 26 January (1788) |
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Constitution:
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NA |
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Legal system:
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under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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, projected to begin operations in the near future |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA
industry: NA services: NA |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Budget:
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revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA |
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Agriculture - products:
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NA |
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Industries:
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tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA |
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Exports:
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NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphate |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia, NZ |
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Imports:
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NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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consumer goods |
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Imports - partners:
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principally Australia |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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NA |
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Currency:
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Australian dollar (AUD) |
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Currency code:
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AUD |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3766 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.932 (2001), 1.7173 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Christmas Island |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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NA |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Radios:
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1,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA |
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Televisions:
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600 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.cx |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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NA |
| Transportation | Christmas Island |
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Highways:
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total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Flying Fish Cove |
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Airports:
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1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Christmas Island |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| Transnational Issues | Christmas Island |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005 |