Christmas Island
Territory of Christmas Island
non-self-governing overseas territory of AustraliaIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Christmas Island as the 2025 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in 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 company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate 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 because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
17 fieldsLand useshare of 135 sq km
Climate
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
People and Society
9 fieldsEthnic groups(2001)
Religions(2016 est.)
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
Environment
3 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Climate
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Government
Non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
20 fieldsCountry 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); Europeans had sighted the island as early as 1615
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:
- Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
- head of government:
- Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
- cabinet:
- NA
- election/appointment process:
- 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
- legislature name:
- Christmas Island Shire Council
- legislative structure:
- unicameral
- number of seats:
- 9 (directly elected)
- electoral system:
- plurality/majority
- scope of elections:
- partial renewal
- term in office:
- 4 years
- most recent election date:
- 10/2023
- parties elected and seats per party:
- independent (9)
- percentage of women in chamber:
- 13%
- expected date of next election:
- October 2025
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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)
National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Flag
- description:
- territorial flag;
- divided diagonally from upper left to lower right;
- the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird;
- the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia;
- a centered yellow disk displays a green outline of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
National anthem(s)
- title:
- "Advance Australia Fair"
- lyrics/music:
- Peter Dodds McCORMICK
- history:
- national anthem, as an Australian territory; _____
- title:
- "God Save the King"
- lyrics/music:
- unknown
- history:
- royal anthem, as an Australian territory
Economy
7 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Economic overview
- high-income Australian territorial economy;
- development through government services and phosphate mining;
- operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre;
- increasing tourism and government investments;
- sustained environmental protections
Exports - commodities
fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
Imports - commodities
aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) · 1.505 (2023 est.) · 1.442 (2022 est.) · 1.331 (2021 est.) · 1.453 (2020 est.)
Communications
3 fieldsBroadcast media
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Transportation
3 fieldsRailways
- 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
Ports
- total ports:
- 1 (2024)
- large:
- 0
- medium:
- 1
- small:
- 0
- very small:
- 0
- ports with oil terminals:
- 0
- key ports:
- Flying Fish Cove
Military and Security
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Christmas Island.” The World Factbook 2025. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/christmas-island.