The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
branch:
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
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:
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
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, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Agriculture - products:
NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Australia, NZ (2006)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
principally Australia (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
Communications
Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 international: country code - 61–8; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
Televisions:
600 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cx
Internet hosts:
1,821 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
464 (2001)
Transportation
Christmas Island
Airports:
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 140 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Flying Fish Cove
Military
Christmas Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Christmas Island
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Clipperton Island
Introduction
Clipperton Island
Background:
This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Geography
Clipperton Island
Location:
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 6 sq km land: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about