World · permanent entity record · CX
Christmas Island
Thirty-second orientation
Christmas Island at a glance
- Capital
- name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove) geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Population
- total: 1,692 (2021 est.) male: 1,007 female: 685
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Area
- total : 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Government
- non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Languages
- English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Maintained classification
Dependency or area of special sovereignty
Australia
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
Maintained profile
- Classification
- Dependency or area of special sovereignty
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
- Sovereignty or administration
- Australia
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
- Administrative center
- Flying Fish Cove
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- about three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Murray Hill 361 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society9 fields
- Population
- total: 1,692 (2021 est.) male: 1,007 female: 685
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001) note: no indigenous population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.) note: data represent language spoken at home
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 16.6% 15-64 years: 70.4% 65 years and over: 13% (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment3 fields
- Environmental issues
- loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government20 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency status
- non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove) geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (territory of Australia)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: none (territory of Australia)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy7 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications3 fields
Transportation3 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Flying Fish Cove
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security1 fields
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.