Country Profile: Christmas Island

Christmas Island, an Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, features steep cliffs and dense jungles. It has a small population of approximately 1,692 residents, predominantly of Chinese descent, and a high-income economy largely reliant on government services and tourism. Governance falls under Australia, with legal and political structures reflecting its status as a non-self-governing territory.

Geography

Christmas Island is situated in southeastern Asia, south of Indonesia. The island encompasses a total area of 135 sq km, characterized by steep cliffs that rise to a central plateau and a coastline of 138.9 km. The climate is tropical, featuring distinct wet and dry seasons.

Highest Point: Murray Hill at 361 m above sea level.
Land Use: 0% agricultural land; the island is completely designated for other uses.
Natural Hazards: The surrounding fringing reef can pose maritime risks.
Located along major Indian Ocean sea lanes.

People and Society

The estimated population of Christmas Island is 1,692 (2021), with a notable demographic consisting of 70% Chinese, 20% European, and 10% Malay. English is the official language, and the population mainly resides at the northern tip of the island. The median age is 38 years.

Population Growth Rate: 1.11% (2014 est.).
Religion: Predominantly Muslim (19.4%) and Buddhist (18.3%).
Age Structure: 16.6% are children (0-14 years); 70.4% are adults (15-64 years).

Economy

Christmas Island has a high-income economy, largely supported by government services and limited phosphate mining. The territory's exports include fertilizers and amine compounds, primarily going to Indonesia and the USA. Tourism is steadily increasing, complemented by government investments.

Exports: Indonesia (30%), USA (26%), Malaysia (12%) (2023).
Imports: USA (58%), Australia (40%) (2023).
Key Industry: Tourism, phosphate extraction nearing depletion.

Government

As a non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia, Christmas Island is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development in Canberra. The island’s legal system is based on Australian law, with no independent political parties.

Capital: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove).
Suffrage: Voting age is 18 years.
Legislature: Christmas Island Shire Council with 9 elected members.

Military and Security

Defense responsibilities for Christmas Island lie with Australia. The region does not maintain its own military forces.

Energy

There is no specific section on energy sources; thus, relevant information is omitted.

Environment

Christmas Island faces environmental challenges, notably the loss of rainforest and the impact of past phosphate mining activities. Preservation efforts are emphasized within the territory.

Transportation

The island has a minimal transportation network, including an airport and limited railways.

Airports: 1 scheduled (2025).
Railways: Historical 18 km of railway track (decommissioned in 1987).
Ports: 1 medium port at Flying Fish Cove is the main entry point.

Communications

Christmas Island features basic communication infrastructure, including a community radio station and access to various Australian media outlets.

Internet Users: 78.6% of the population (2016 est.).
Internet Country Code: .cx.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,692	2021 estimate
Area	135 sq km	Total land area
Highest Point	361 m	Murray Hill
GDP	Not specified	Economy primarily governmental and tourism-based
Population Growth Rate	1.11%	2014 estimate
Median Age	38 years	2021 estimate
Unemployment Rate	Not specified
Climate	Tropical	Wet season: Dec-April