Communications: Broadcast media
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Communications: Internet country code
.cx
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
78.6% (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.453 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.331 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.442 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.505 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.515 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023)
Economy: Imports - commodities
aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023)
Environment: Climate
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Environment: Environmental issues
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
135 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
138.9 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Murray Hill 361 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography: Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean
Geography: Irrigated land
NA
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Map references
Southeast Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
12 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Geography: Population distribution
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Geography: Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Government: Capital: etymology
Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
10 25 S, 105 43 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship
see Australia
Government: Constitution: history
1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Christmas Island
Government: Country name: 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
Government: Dependency status
non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
none (territory of Australia)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
NA
Government: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
Government: 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
Government: International organization participation
none
Government: 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)
Government: Legal system
system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
October 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Christmas Island Shire Council
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
9 (directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
independent (9)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
13%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
partial renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
royal anthem, as an Australian territory
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown
Government: National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Government: National symbol(s)
golden bosun bird
Government: Political parties
none
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age
Introduction: Background
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.
Military and Security: Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
16.6%
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
70.4%
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
13% (2021)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Christmas Island
People and Society: Population distribution
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.11% (2014 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
685
People and Society: Population: male
1,007
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Flying Fish Cove
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)
Transportation: Railways: total
18 km (2017)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.