Christmas Island

Territory of Christmas Island

LOCATION

Background: Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore.Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns, and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it.In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island, and the migrants claimed refugee status because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.

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 three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 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: highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: phosphate, beaches
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

Population: total: 1,692 (2021 est.)
male: 1,007
female: 685
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)
Languages: English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.)
Religions: Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.6%
15-64 years: 70.4%
65 years and over: 13% (2021)
Median age: total: 38 years (2021 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

Environmental issues: loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); Europeans had sighted the island as early as 1615
Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Dependency status: non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Capital: name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
Legal system: system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Constitution: history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
cabinet: NA
election/appointment process: 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 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch: legislature name: Christmas Island Shire Council
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 9 (directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/2023
parties elected and seats per party: independent (9)
percentage of women in chamber: 13%
expected date of next election: October 2025
Judicial branch: highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island, including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation: none
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Flag: description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper left to lower right; the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird; the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia; a centered yellow disk displays a green outline of the island
National symbol(s): golden bosun bird
National anthem(s): title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory

Economic overview: high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Exports - partners: Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023)
Imports - partners: USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023)
Imports - commodities: aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates: Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet users: percent of population: 78.6% (2016 est.)

Airports: 1 (2025)
Railways: total: 18 km (2017)
standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)
Ports: total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 0
ports with oil terminals: 0
key ports: Flying Fish Cove

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia