SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
500 (1992)
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: NA
Telephones
NA
Television broadcast stations
1
Televisions
350 (1992) Defense
◆ ECONOMY(20 fields)
Agriculture
NA
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Economic aid
none
Economic overview
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Private operators reopened the mine in 1990 under strict environmental controls, in particular to preserve the rain forest. A hotel and casino complex opened in 1993, and tourism is a likely growth sector.
Electricity
capacity: 11,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 17,800 kWh (1990)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996),1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704, (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991)
Exports
$NA commodities: phosphate partners: Australia, NZ
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
GDP
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP per capita
$NA
GDP real growth rate
NA%
Imports
$NA commodities: consumer goods partners: principally Australia
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Labor force
NA by occupation: all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.
Unemployment rate
NA%
◆ GEOGRAPHY(15 fields)
Area
total area: 135 sq km land area: 135 sq km comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline
138.9 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geographic note
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
phosphate
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
◆ GOVERNMENT(17 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
The Settlement
Constitution
Christmas Island Act of 1958
Data code
KT
Diplomatic representation in US
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA) was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia cabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council
Flag
the flag of Australia is used
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation
none
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
under the authority of the governor general of Australia
Legislative branch
none
Name of country
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
National holiday
NA
Political parties and leaders
none
Type of government
territory of Australia
US diplomatic representation
none (territory of Australia)
◆ PEOPLE(14 fields)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic divisions
Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous population
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Nationality
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
813 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
-8.98% (1996 est.)
Religions
Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20% (1991)
Sex ratio
at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
◆ TRANSPORTATION(5 fields)
Airports
total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Highways
total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine
none
Ports
Flying Fish Cove
Railways
24 km to serve phosphate mines