Country Profile: Christmas Island

Christmas Island is a small Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia. It spans an area of 135 square kilometers and features a diverse tropical climate characterized by a wet season and a dry season. The island has a population of approximately 1,692 inhabitants (2021), with a predominantly Chinese demographic. The economy is primarily driven by government services, tourism, and past phosphate mining activities. Governed as a non-self-governing territory of Australia, it operates under Australian law while being managed from Canberra.

Geography

Christmas Island is situated in southeastern Asia in the Indian Ocean, approximately south of Indonesia. The island's terrain features steep cliffs that rise dramatically to a central plateau, with the highest point being Murray Hill at 361 meters. It has no land borders and a coastline of 138.9 kilometers, surrounded by a narrow fringing reef that can pose maritime hazards.

135 sq km: Total area of the island.
361 m: Highest elevation at Murray Hill.
0%: Agricultural land use as of 2018.
100%: Land use classified as 'other' as of 2018.

People and Society

The population of Christmas Island is estimated at 1,692 in 2021, composed mainly of Chinese (70%), European (20%), and Malay (10%) ethnic groups. The island has no indigenous population. English is the official language, with Mandarin and Malay also widely spoken. The society is diverse in terms of religions, including significant populations of Muslims and Buddhists.

1,692: Estimated population in 2021.
38 years: Median age of the population (2021).
16.6%: Proportion of the population aged 0-14 years.
70.4%: Proportion of the population aged 15-64 years.

Economy

Christmas Island has a high-income economy significantly supported by government services and tourism. Historically, phosphate mining was a major industry, although it is now near depletion and has raised environmental concerns. The island also operates Australia's Immigration Detention Centre, contributing to its economic framework.

30%: Exports to Indonesia (2023).
58%: Imports from the USA (2023).
Fertilizers: Key export commodity in 2023.
Tourism: An emerging sector in the economy.

Government

Christmas Island is a non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia, administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development. Its government operates under Australian law, with a local council known as the Christmas Island Shire Council. The territory has no political parties and follows the political and legal framework established by Australia.

$20 million: Compensation paid by Australia for phosphate income loss in 1958.
9: Seats in the Christmas Island Shire Council, all independently held (2023).
18 years: Minimum voting age for suffrage.

Military and Security

The defense of Christmas Island is the responsibility of Australia, implying that it does not have its own military forces. The territory relies on Australian defense services for any security needs.

Transportation

Christmas Island has one airport and a decommissioned railway line, which was previously used for phosphate transportation. The island has a single key port, Flying Fish Cove, for maritime access.

1: Active airport on the island (2025).
18 km: Length of the decommissioned Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway.

Communications

The island has limited communication infrastructure, including one community radio station and access to satellite broadcasts from Australian media. Internet penetration is relatively high, with a significant percentage of the population using the web.

78.6%: Internet user rate as of 2016.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	1,692	Estimated as of 2021
Area	135 sq km	Total area of the island
Highest Point	361 m	Elevation at Murray Hill
Median Age	38 years	Median age of the population (2021)
Exports to Indonesia	30%	Proportion of exports in 2023
Imports from the USA	58%	Proportion of imports in 2023
Unemployment	Not provided
Birth Rate	Not provided
Energy Consumption	Not provided
GDP	Not provided