The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:
Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:
Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:
English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:
NA
People - note:
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as
of the 2001 Census
Government Christmas Island
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department
of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:
NA
Capital:
The Settlement
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:
NA
Legal system:
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and
Australian law
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November
2003)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch:
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for
election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
none
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas
Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag,
however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the
official flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,
but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In
1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a
$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The
Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a
commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin
operations in mid-2004
GDP:
purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
NA
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:
NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exports:
NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
principally Australia
Debt - external:
NA
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002),
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Fiscal