Christmas Island

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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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.

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Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

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10 30 S, 105 40 E

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Southeast Asia

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about three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.

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138.9 km

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tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

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steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

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phosphate, beaches

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NA

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majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

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the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

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located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

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Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)

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<strong>note:</strong> no indigenous population

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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.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent language spoken at home

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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.)

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1.11% (2014 est.)

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majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

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loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

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tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

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non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

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non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities &amp; Regional Development

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system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

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see Australia

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18 years of age

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none

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none (territory of Australia)

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none

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none (territory of Australia)

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Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

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<strong>description:</strong> 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

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<strong>note:</strong> the flag of Australia is used for official purposes

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golden bosun bird

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high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia&rsquo;s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections

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tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

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Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023)

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<strong>note:</strong> top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

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USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)

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.cx

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1 (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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defense is the responsibility of Australia