Country:  Christmas Island
(territory of Australia)
- Geography
Total area: 135 km2; land area: 135 km2
 
Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
 
Land boundaries: none
 
Coastline: 138.9 km
 
Maritime claims:
 
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
 
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
 
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
 
Natural resources: phosphate
 
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
0% forest and woodland; 100% other
 
Environment: almost completely surrounded by a reef
 
Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
 
- People
Population: 2,278 (July 1990), growth rate 0.0% (1990)
 
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
 
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
 
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
 
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
 
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
 
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
 
Nationality: noun--Christmas Islander(s), adjective--Christmas Island
 
Ethnic divisions: 61% Chinese, 25% Malay, 11% European, 3% other; no
indigenous population
 
Religion: NA
 
Language: English
 
Literacy: NA%
 
Labor force: NA; all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining
Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
 
Organized labor: NA
 
- Government
Long-form name: Territory of Christmas Island
 
Type: territory of Australia
 
Capital: The Settlement
 
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
 
National holiday: NA
 
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet)
 
Legislative branch: none
 
Judicial branch: none
 
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
 
Head of Government--Administrator A. D. TAYLOR (since NA)
 
Communists: none
 
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
 
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
 
- Economy
Overview: Phosphate mining is the only significant economic
activity, but in November 1987 the Australian Government announced that
the mine would be closed because of labor unrest. Plans are under way to build a
casino and hotel to develop tourism.
 
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
 
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
 
Unemployment rate: 0%
 
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
$NA
 
Exports: $NA; commodities--phosphate; partners--Australia, NZ
 
Imports: $NA; commodities--NA; partners--NA
 
External debt: $NA
 
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
 
Electricity: 11,000 kW capacity; 38 million kWh produced,
16,680 kWh per capita (1989)
 
Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)
 
Agriculture: NA
 
Aid: none
 
Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents
 
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990),
1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
 
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
 
- Communications
Ports: Flying Fish Cove
 
Airports: 1 usable with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m
 
Telecommunications: 4,000 radios (1982)
 
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia