

Topic: Photos of Christmas Island

Topic: Introduction
Background: Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants 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 Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million 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 since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, although plans to reopen it were announced in early 2019.Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants 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 Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million 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 since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, although plans to reopen it were announced in early 2019.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
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, DC
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
Map description: Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,205 (2016 est.)
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s)

adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)

note: no indigenous population
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.)

note: data represent language spoken at home
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: 12.79% (2017 est.) (male 147/female 135)

15-24 years: 12.2% (2017 est.) (male 202/female 67)

25-54 years: 57.91% (2017 est.) (male 955/female 322)

55-64 years: 11.66% (2017 est.) (male 172/female 85)

65 years and over: 5.44% (2017 est.) (male 84/female 36)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: total: (2018) NA

male: NA

female: NA
Life expectancy at birth: total population: (2017 est.) NA

male: NA

female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

Topic: Environment
Environment - current 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.)

Topic: Government
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); the island had been sighted by Europeans 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: self-descriptive name for the main locus of population
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Constitution: history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)

amendments: amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017)

elections/appointments: 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: description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

elections: held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2021 (next to be held in October 2023)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2021 - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: 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 and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed; the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island

note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
National symbol(s): golden bosun bird
National anthem: note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): NANA
Agricultural products: NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Labor force: NA
Budget: revenues: NA

expenditures: NA
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Exports: NANA
Exports - partners: Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019)
Exports - commodities: calcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019)
Imports: NANA
Imports - partners: Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019)
Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.311 (2017 est.)

1.3442 (2016 est.)

1.3442 (2015)

1.3291 (2014 est.)

1.1094 (2013 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: service provided by the Australian network

domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network

international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)
Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet users: total: 790 (2016 est.)

percent of population: 36% (2016 est.)

Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Railways: total: 18 km (2017)

standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)

note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place
Roadways: total: 142 km (2011)

paved: 32 km (2011)

unpaved: 110 km (2011)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone