Christmas Island
Territory of Christmas Island
non-self-governing overseas territory of AustraliaIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Christmas Island as the 2017 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888 with the discovery of the island's phosphate deposits. Following the Second World War, Christmas Island came under the jurisdiction of the new British Colony of Singapore. The island existed as a separate Crown colony from 1 January 1958 to 1 October 1958 when its transfer to Australian jurisdiction was finalized. That date is still celebrated on the first Monday in October as Territory Day. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
18 fieldsPeople and Society
15 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2017 est.)
Ethnic groups(2001)
Religions(2011 est.)
Government
Non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
22 fieldsChristmas Island Shire Council, 9 seatsone dot, one seat
Country 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 discovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643)
Dependency status
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Capital
- name:
- The Settlement
- geographic coordinates:
- 10 25 S, 105 43 E
- time difference:
- UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Constitution
1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times, last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2016)
Legal system
legal system is 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 Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
- head of government:
- Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
- elections/appointments:
- 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
- description:
- unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)
- elections:
- held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2015 (next to be held on 21 October 2017)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9
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)
Flag description
- territorial flag;
- divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly;
- the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed;
- the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed;
- a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
National anthem
note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
Economy
12 fieldsEconomy - overview
The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.3442 (2016) · 1.3442 (2015) · 1.3291 (2014 est.) · 1.1094 (2013 est.) · 0.9695 (2012 est.)
Communications
4 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- service provided by the Australian network
- domestic:
- local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network
- international:
- international code - 61 8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2017)
Broadcast media
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 18 km
- standard gauge:
- 18 km 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 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 134
Military and Security
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Christmas Island.” The World Factbook 2017. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/christmas-island/2017.