Country Profile [CIA, 2008]Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began 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.
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Coordinates 10° 30' S 105° 40.02' E
Capital The Settlement
Main Cities No (other) main settlements
Area 135 km2
Boundaries (km) 0
Coastline (km) 80
Timezone (GMT) 7
Population 1,402 (July 2007 est.) (Demographics)
Public Holidays N/A
Currency Australian dollar (AUD)
GDP $NA (Economic data)
Main Exports phosphate
Climate tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Natural Hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Physical Features Steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Christmas Island has a population of 1,402 (July 2007 est.) .
Capital The Settlement
Main urban areas No (other) main settlements
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
Languages spoken English (official), Chinese, Malay
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, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
Debt and Aid
Debt: N/A
Aid Given: N/A
Aid Received: $NA
Labour Force
Number in labour force: NA
Sectors: N/A
Unemployment: NA%
GDP Facts and Figures
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
GDP: $NA
GDP Per Capita: N/A
GDP Real Growth: N/A
GDP Composition: N/A
Production Growth Rate: NA%
Industries, Land Use and Resource Consumption
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
Exports: phosphate
Electricity Consumption: NA kWh
Natural Gas Consumption:
Oil Consumption:
Transport and Communications
A selection of key transport and communications information for Christmas Island
Number of main telephone lines
NA
Mobile (cellular) phones
N/A
Radio stations
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Television stations
0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
Internet users
464 (2001)
Country internet code
.cx
Railways
None
Highways
total: 142 km paved: 32 km unpaved: 110 km (2006)
Waterways
None
Pipelines
None
Ports and harbours
Flying Fish Cove
Airports
1 (2007)
Heliports
NA
