{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "10 30 S, 105 40 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Southeast Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "135 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "135 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "138.9 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "contiguous zone": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Murray Hill 361 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Indian Ocean 0 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "phosphate, beaches"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "100% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,692"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "1,007"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "685 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Christmas Islander(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Christmas Island"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> no indigenous population"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "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": "<strong>note:</strong> data represent language spoken at home"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "16.6%"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "70.4%"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "13% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "38 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "1.11% (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island"
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "100% (2018 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Territory of Christmas Island"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Christmas Island"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia"
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities &amp; Regional Development"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "10 25 S, 105 43 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "amended many times, last in 2020"
      }
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see Australia"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Administrator Ms. Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Christmas Island Shire Council"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "9 (directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "partial renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "10/2023"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "independent (9)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "13%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "October 2025"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "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)"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "none"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "none"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "none (territory of Australia)"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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; 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": "<strong>note:</strong> the flag of Australia is used for official purposes"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "golden bosun bird"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "text": "<p><strong>note:</strong> as a territory of Australia, \"Advance Australia Fair\" remains official as the national anthem, while \"God Save the King\" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)</p>"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "NZ 25%, Indonesia 18%, Singapore 12%, Australia 9%, Ireland 8% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "phosphates, fertilizers, chemical analysis instruments, electrical transformers, measuring instruments (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Australia 93%, US 3%, Malaysia 2%, Singapore 1%, Fiji 0% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, air conditioners, paintings (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "1.505 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "1.442 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "1.331 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "1.453 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "1.439 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "internet access on Christmas Island is provided by satellite; improvements through the Regional Connectivity Program to the macro and small cell mobile sites will provide new and improved mobile, voice and data connectivity for residents and visitors; the upgrade will also support local businesses and community facilities, enabling increased residential access to essential services such as telehealth and education (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "improvements to Christmas Island include an upgrade to the macro cell base stations and deploy a new macro cell base station at the airport (2022)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".cx"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "78.6% (2021 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Airports": {
      "text": "1 (2024)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "18 km (2017)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)"
      },
      "note": "<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"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "142 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "32 km"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "110 km (2011)"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "1 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Flying Fish Cove"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of Australia"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
  }
}