Christmas Island
Territory of Christmas Island
non-self-governing overseas territory of AustraliaIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Christmas Island as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year.
In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants 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 Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million 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 since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, although plans to reopen it were announced in early 2019.
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
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2017 est.)
Ethnic 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; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017)
21 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 rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643);
- the island had been sighted by Europeans 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:
- self-descriptive name for the main locus of population
National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Constitution
- history:
- 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
- amendments:
- amended many times, last in 2020
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 David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)
- head of government:
- Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017)
- 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 21 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2019)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA;
- seats by party - independent 9;
- composition as of 17 October 2015 - men 7, women 2, percent of women 22.2%
Judicial branch
highest courts: 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
14 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Economic 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 - 1.311 (2017 est.) · 1.3442 (2016 est.) · 1.3442 (2015) · 1.3291 (2014 est.) · 1.1094 (2013 est.)
Communications
4 fieldsTelecommunication systems
- 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;
- ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia;
- satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)
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 (2017)
- standard gauge:
- 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2017)
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
Military and Security
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Christmas Island.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/christmas-island/2021.