Page last updated on January 7, 2014
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.
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
total: 135 sq km
country comparison to the world: 222
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2011)
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
1,513 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235
1.12% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958); amended many times, last in 2010 (Territories Law Reform Act 2010) (2010)
legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012)
elections: 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 two-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held In 2011 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
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)
judge selection and term of office:
subordinate courts:
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
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
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)
The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and more recently the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine and defense.
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile-cellular telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2009)
3,028 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 155
464 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 217
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 223
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 18 km
country comparison to the world: 133
standard gauge: 18 km 1.435-m (not in operation) (2010)
total: 140 km
country comparison to the world: 211
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 110 km (2011)
major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
defense is the responsibility of Australia
