Christmas Island




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (territory of Australia)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and
     Indonesia
Map references:
     Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
     135 sq km
land area:
     135 sq km
comparative area:
     about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     138.9 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
     12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
     steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Natural resources:
     phosphate
Land use:
arable land:
     0%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     0%
forest and woodland:
     0%
other:
     100%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA




natural hazards:
     almost completely surrounded by a reef
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean


                                  People


Population:
     973 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     -9% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     NA
Death rate:
     NA
Net migration rate:
     NA
Infant mortality rate:
     NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     NA
male:
     NA
female:
     NA
Total fertility rate:
     NA
Nationality:
noun:
     Christmas Islander(s)
adjective:
Ethnic divisions:
     Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%, no indigenous
     population
Religions:
     Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%,
     Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%,
     Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown
     4.6%, other 3.5% (1981)
Languages:
     English
Literacy:
total population:
     NA%
male:
     NA%
female:
     NA%
Labor force:
     NA




by occupation:
     all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas
     Island, Ltd.


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     KT
Type:
     territory of Australia
Capital:
     The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
     none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
     none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
     NA
Constitution:
     Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system:
     under the authority of the governor general of Australia
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
     Administrator M. J. GRIMES (since NA)
cabinet:
     Advisory Council
Legislative branch:
     none
Judicial branch:
     none
Political parties and leaders:
     none
Member of:
     none
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
     the flag of Australia is used


                                  Economy




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. Plans have been under way to reopen the
     mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism.
National product:
     GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
     NA%
National product per capita:
     $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     NA%
Unemployment rate:
     NA%
Budget:
revenues:
     $NA
expenditures:
     $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
     $NA
commodities:
     phosphate
partners:
     Australia, NZ
Imports:
     $NA
commodities:
     consumer goods
partners:
     principally Australia
External debt:
     $NA
Industrial production:
     growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
     11,000 kW
production:
     30 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     17,800 kWh (1990)
Industries:
     phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Agriculture:
     NA
Economic aid:
     none
Currency:
     1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704,
     (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)




Fiscal year:
     1 July - 30 June


                              Communications


Highways:
total:
     NA
paved:
     NA
unpaved:
     NA
Ports:
     Flying Fish Cove
Airports:
total:
     1
usable:
     1
with permanent-surface runways:
     1
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     1
Telecommunications:
     broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 TV


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of Australia