Christmas Island
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.
Area
Coastline
138.9 km
Elevation
Geographic coordinates
Geography - note
located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Location
Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources
Terrain
steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Age structure
Ethnic groups
Languages
Median age
total: 38 years (2021 est.)
Nationality
noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Population distribution
majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Population growth rate
1.11% (2014 est.)
Population
- breakdown
- {"male":{"value":1007,"unit":"people","formatted":"1,007","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":685,"unit":"people","formatted":"685","name":"Female Population"}}
- meta
- {"year":2021}
Religions
Climate
tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Environmental issues
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
Capital
- name
- The Settlement
- geo
- {"lat":-10.4167,"lng":105.7167}
- timezone
- {"difference":"UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":null}
- meta
- {}
Citizenship
see Australia
Constitution
history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
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); Europeans had sighted the island as early as 1615
Dependency status
non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
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) head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023) cabinet: NA 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
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 note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
Government type
non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Independence
International organization participation
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)
Legal system
system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Legislative branch
legislature name: Christmas Island Shire Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 9 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: independent (9) percentage of women in chamber: 13% expected date of next election: October 2025
National anthem(s)
title: "Advance Australia Fair" lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK history: national anthem, as an Australian territory _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory
National holiday
National symbol(s)
golden bosun bird
Political parties
none
Suffrage
18 years of age
Economic overview
high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia’s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
Imports - commodities
Imports - partners
Industries
Broadcast media
1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code
.cx
Internet users
percent of population: 78.6% (2016 est.)
Airports
1 (2025)
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Flying Fish Cove
Railways
total: 18 km (2017) standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 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
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia