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Christmas Island travel guides

Christmas Island - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Transnational Issues

Introduction

General Information: Christmas Island

The capital of Christmas Island is The Settlement.

Major cities of Christmas Island are:
Christmas Island.

Geography

Location:	Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Coordinates:	10 30 S, 105 40 E
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:	0 km
Coastline:	80 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:	tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
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 (2001)
Irrigated Land:	NA sq km
Natural Hazards:	the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Note:	located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People

Population:	396 (July 2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	-9% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex Ratio:	NA (2004 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: NA male: NA female: NA (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
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
People Note:	The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census

Gouvernment

Country Name:	conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Capital:	The Settlement
Administrative Divisions:	none (territory of Australia)
Independence:	none (territory of Australia)
National Holiday:	Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
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 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
Legislative Branch:	unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political Parties Leaders:	none
Political Pressure Groups Leaders:	none
International Organization Participation:	none
Diplomatic in US:	none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic from US:	none (territory of Australia)
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

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, projected to begin operations in mid-2004
GDP:	purchasing power parity - NA
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - NA
GDP Composition:	agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
Household Income:	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Budget:	revenues: NA expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Industries:	tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Electricity Production:	NA kWh
Electricity Consumption:	NA kWh
Exports Commodities:	phosphate
Exports Partners:	Australia, NZ
Imports Commodities:	consumer goods
Imports Partners:	principally Australia
Currency:	Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency Code:	AUD
Exchange Rates:	Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Fiscal Year:	1 July - 30 June

Communications

Telephone System:	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)
Radio Stations:	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Internet Code:	.cx

Transportation

Highways:	total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Waterways:	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)
Ports Harbors:	Flying Fish Cove
Airports:	1 (2003 est.)
Airports Paved Runways:	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)